19-02-2025
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.
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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.
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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.'
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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.
