AI in Healthcare: Promises vs Realities for Africa's Medical Systems
Ben Guerir – The third day of UM6P's Science Week focused on Morocco's vision of AI applications in the health sector.
Rachid El Fatimy, Dean of the UM6P's Faculty of Medical Sciences, set the tone for the day's discussions by addressing the rapid evolution of healthcare.
Speaking at the beginning of the conference on medical sciences, El Fatimy said that 'medicine and healthcare is changing faster than ever. It's really challenging for us to follow what happens actually, and AI is playing a major role in this transformation.' Rachid El Fatimy, Dean of the UM6P's Faculty of Medical Sciences
The conference tackled pressing questions about AI's integration into medical practice.
'Can AI replace system medical specificities? How can it improve patient care without taking away the human connection between the professional and patient?' El Fatimy posed these central questions. In response, he argued that 'the future of medicine is about much more than AI.'
In an interview with Morocco World News, El Fatimy stressed the need for AI to help within the healthcare system, now that the technology is 'performing very well in helping physicians, doctors, for the diagnosis.'
He further elaborated that 'by using the data, the available data in the healthcare system, the AI now is able to help, to support, to support the physician almost every day,' thus contributing to the healthcare sector.
Fresh from a global nephrology congress in New Delhi, Intissar Haddiya, professor of nephrology at Mohammed I University in Oujda, shared insights from her recent research across ten African countries.
Read also: Morocco Sets Stage for AI Future with GenAI Summit
Later speaking to Morocco World News (MWN), Haddiya drew a clear distinction between AI as an assistant and as a replacement. Intissar Haddiya, professor of nephrology at Mohammed I University in Oujda
She said that AI will not replace humans, but rather boost doctors' performance and productivity
'AI will not replace us, just as calculators did not replace mathematicians and autopilot programs did not replace pilots,' Haddiya explained.
She warned, however, that 'doctors who adopt and use AI responsibly in the future will replace those who don't.'
The technology shows particular promise in specialties involving imaging and structured data.
She spoke in particular of AI's applications in radiology and oncology, stressing: 'AI can detect lesions that are very small, that the human eye cannot screen or detect. It can also detect some lesions years before they become really seen and established.'
Haddiya delivered a compelling presentation on AI's role in transforming healthcare, particularly in addressing Africa's medical challenges. Intissar Haddiya's presentation
The UM6P Science Week itself represents a significant milestone for Moroccan healthcare research.
'This is a very nice and insightful and prestigious scientific event that builds bridges between scientists and researchers from across the world and fosters collaboration and insights from various fields of science,' Haddiya explained.
Read also: UM6P's Bet on Entrepreneurship, Innovation Is Driving Morocco's AI Leadership
She told MWN that the scientific gathering provides 'a great opportunity for us as Moroccan researchers to develop new research topics and to work together and broaden our horizons in terms of research.'
Prior to her interview with MWN, Haddiya's presentation on the role of AI in boosting doctors' productivity had stressed the incredible pace and precision of AI-assisted diagnosis.
'Imagine a doctor capable of reviewing millions of medical records in seconds, without fatigue or inattention, detecting anomalies invisible to the human eye and predicting diseases before symptoms appear,' she began, noting: 'This isn't science fiction – this AI doctor already exists.'
Haddiya's recent research, published in both French and English, examines healthcare systems across ten African countries, revealing significant challenges.
'Our study showed alarming disparities in healthcare access,' she noted, elaborating that 'in some countries, patients must cross four borders to receive specialized care.'
Haddiya also spoke of how particularly pressing challenges are significantly shifting the overall medical knowledge.
'In the 1950s, medical knowledge doubled every 50 years. During the COVID pandemic, it was every 70 days. Now, it's around three weeks,' she noted, adding: 'No human can stay informed of all advances.'
Read also: Morocco Takes Lead in Shaping Global Scientific Future at UM6P Science Week
Haddiya cited recent studies that show how patient interaction still favors human doctors. The studies reported that '80% of patients found AI consultations effective and informative,' while 'human doctors scored even better at 91%,' she said.
For African healthcare systems, AI presents an opportunity to address resource gaps and improve access to specialized care.
As healthcare continues to evolve, the integration of AI appears not just beneficial but necessary, especially in regions facing significant health-related challenges.
In the face of such pressing concerns, UM6P's Science Week hopes to provide the ground for promising discussions aimed at enhancing Morocco's and Africa's scientific presence in a wide range of fields, as leaders rather than followers.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Ya Biladi
a day ago
- Ya Biladi
Boston University scholar traces Morocco's ancient brocade tradition in Fes
A Boston University doctoral student is documenting the evolution of Morocco's centuries-old brocade weaving industry in the city of Fes, where the craft has persisted since medieval times despite significant changes in materials and techniques. According to BU Today, Morgan Snoap, a PhD candidate in African art and Fulbright Student Researcher, has spent nine months in Fes studying how traditional brocade production has adapted to modern times while maintaining its cultural significance. The research reveals that brocade weaving in Fes dates back to the 14th century, when ornate silk belts were essential wedding attire for both Muslim and Jewish women. These wide ceremonial belts featured intricate floral and geometric patterns and were wrapped multiple times around the waist over kaftans. Today's brocade industry faces different realities. The original silk material has been replaced by rayon after Morocco's silkworms died out in the late 19th century, forcing weavers to rely on imported silk. The complex medieval «lampas» weaving technique has evolved into a simpler but still intricate hand-operated process using drawlooms. Only four brocade workshops remain in Fes, where master weavers collaborate with drawmen to create designs. While ceremonial belts are no longer worn, brocade kaftans continue as wedding attire, and the fabric now decorates hotels, restaurants, and homes as furnishing material and curtains.
Ya Biladi
26-05-2025
- Ya Biladi
Morocco joins Africa's top 10 startup ecosystems
Morocco has entered the top 10 African startup ecosystems, according to the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2025, an annual report by StartupBlink that ranks over 1,000 cities and 100 countries worldwide based on the strength and vibrancy of their startup landscapes. The country is now ranked 88th globally, climbing four spots from last year's 92nd position, with a score of 0.687. Morocco has recorded the highest growth rate (over 23%) among North African countries. Regionally, it ranks 3rd in North Africa, behind Egypt (65th globally) and Tunisia (82nd). In Africa overall, Morocco ranks 9th, ahead of Senegal but behind South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Cape Verde, Ghana, and Namibia. Globally, the top five positions are held by the United States, the United Kingdom, Israel, Singapore, and Canada. Casablanca, Morocco's startup hub Morocco has three cities in the global top 1,000, with Casablanca and Rabat showing strong momentum. Casablanca climbed an impressive 42 spots to rank 317th globally, with a growth rate of over 40%, the highest among Morocco's startup hubs and in North Africa. Rabat also advanced, rising seven places to 811th, with a growth rate exceeding 20%. In contrast, Agadir risks dropping out of the global top 1,000 due to a negative growth trend (968th). The report attributes Morocco's performance to its affordable and stable base for entrepreneurs seeking to access the North African market. It also highlights the impact of public and private initiatives, such as MoroccoTech, the Digital Morocco 2030 strategy, and events like GITEX Africa, which help position the country as a regional tech hub. Key capital funds such as UM6P Ventures, Maroc Numeric Fund, and the Innov Invest Fund play a crucial role in supporting early-stage startups, while organizations like StartUp Maroc and innovation hubs like Impact Lab contribute to building a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem, writes the authors of the report.
Morocco World
26-05-2025
- Morocco World
AI Offers Hope for Morocco's Groundwater Crisis in Oases
Rabat — A group of Moroccan researchers has developed an artificial intelligence system that could help solve critical water shortages in oases, offering new hope for communities facing severe groundwater depletion. Adil Moumane, a researcher at Ibn Tofail university in Kenitra, presented the study at the second edition of the International Congress on Oases and Date Palm (CIO), held May 22-23 in Ouarzazate. This year's edition focused on the resilience and adaptation of oases ecosystems to global changes, particularly climate change. The research combines machine learning with geographic technology to identify optimal locations for water collection infrastructure in arid regions. In an interview with Morocco World News (MWN), Moumane said: 'We use Geo AI to identify areas where we can build construction that can collect the rainwater.' 'We observed that in the area of Zagora, for example, there is a big decrease of the groundwater table.' The research focused on Morocco's Middle Draa Valley, a region facing severe aquifer stress. Moumane's team developed a system that analyzes ten environmental factors, including soil conditions, rainfall patterns, elevation, and vegetation coverage, to identify where water collection structures would work best. Read also: Morocco's ANDZOA Chief Calls for Urgent Action to Protect Argan, Oases Ecosystems The AI system tested six machine learning approaches and found that LightGBM, a gradient boosting framework that uses tree-based learning algorithms, performed best, achieving 90% accuracy in predicting optimal groundwater recharge zones. The system identified soil permeability, elevation, and proximity to streams as the most important factors for successful water collection. Morocco's oasis regions face mounting pressure from climate change and population migration. Traditional communities that have depended on these water sources for generations now struggle as water tables drop to dangerous levels. 'The Oases area is under pressure of climate change and also under the pressure of different other global changes like migration of local people,' Moumane noted. The researcher's framework offers a data-driven solution using satellite imagery and advanced algorithms. Local authorities can make informed decisions about water infrastructure investments before building expensive projects. 'Recent extreme rainfall during the 2024-2025 season in southeastern Morocco highlighted both challenges and opportunities these regions face,' he told MWN, explaining that 'while sudden floods cause damage, they also represent precious water that could be captured with proper infrastructure placement. 'This research pioneers the application of machine learning and deep learning on geospatial data for groundwater mapping in data-limited contexts,' Moumane explained. The framework's modular design allows adaptation for arid regions worldwide, potentially helping millions facing similar water challenges. Conferences like CIO provide a platform for innovations like Moumane group's AI system to offer practical solutions to preserve ancient oasis ecosystems for future generations, particularly in the backdrop of climate change pressing challenges. Read also: Morocco-UAE Partnership Strengthens Date Palm Industry Development Tags: AI and agricultureMoroccoOases and climate changeOases and date palme
