Laâyoune Hosts Debate on Scientific Innovation to Advance Healthcare in Africa
Scientific innovation is the cornerstone of healthcare development in Africa, emphasized participants in a conference held Friday evening in Laâyoune, as part of the 6th E-Congress of the Moroccan Society of Anesthesia, Analgesia and Resuscitation (E-SMAAR).
Experts from diverse fields — precision medicine, medical imaging, predictive and preventive medicine, oncology, blockchain, and artificial intelligence (AI) — highlighted technological advances that could help strengthen healthcare across the continent.
Speaking on the occasion, Bamba Gaye, Executive Director of the Alliance for Medical Research in Africa, issued structural recommendations for the use of AI in healthcare. He stressed the need to adapt algorithms to African realities, promote digital inclusion for equitable access, and create public-private partnerships to support startups. The Senegalese expert also underlined the importance of ethical governance of data, including algorithmic transparency and effective regulation of personal data protection.
Abdelhakim Senhaji, Director of the Communication Networks Laboratory in Canada, presented the potential of blockchain technology in healthcare. Among possible applications, he cited securing supply chains, creating unified medical records, and setting up reliable digital authentication systems.
For his part, Salah Dine Qanadli, Medical Director at the Swiss Institute of Imaging and Image-guided Therapies, called for a reinvention of medical imaging in Africa. He stressed the need for affordable, adaptable, and easily deployable technologies, while advocating for a gradual integration of advanced tools and the mobilization of the African diaspora for meaningful skills transfer.
Nina Maouelainin, Medical Director of Interventional Pulmonology in the United States, focused her intervention on lung cancer prediction, drawing attention to Africa-specific risk factors beyond smoking, such as indoor pollution, HIV, tuberculosis, and occupational exposure. She also recommended pilot projects combining mobile imaging with AI, as well as the creation of regional risk registries to optimize resources.
Meanwhile, Boutayeb Saber, Director of the Mohammed VI Center for Research and Innovation, highlighted pathways for integrating precision medicine. He called for rigorous evaluation of projects, continuous scientific monitoring, and pooling of available resources.
Mohamed Benahmed, former research director at France’s National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) and founder of a biotechnology company, stressed the importance of embedding predictive and preventive medicine within African healthcare systems. His proposals included introducing dedicated modules in medical curricula, promoting local research through genomics centers, and raising community awareness on preventive health.
The conference illustrated a shared determination to build an integrated African vision of research and innovation in service of a more equitable, sustainable, and technologically advanced healthcare system.
With more than 70 scientific sessions and the participation of 160 experts from 25 countries, the 6th E-Congress (E-SMAAR), held under the High Patronage of HM King Mohammed VI, serves as a platform of excellence, bringing together Moroccan and international learned societies.
Editorial team/le7tv
