Rology team celebrating the FDA 510(k) clearance for its Teleradiology Platform in October 2023.
A team of entrepreneurs are connecting radiologists with patients in Egypt and Kenya and using artificial intelligence to help in delivering a fast, accurate diagnosis.
Around four billion people, mainly in low- and middle-income countries in the Global South lack access to basic medical imaging technology, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), owing to a shortage of radiologists, equipment and access.
Amr Abodraiaa, CEO and co-founder of Rology, says that to address the problem of limited access to quality diagnostic imaging in Kenya and Egypt, where health systems are strained due to systemic inequities and weak governance, the company found a technological solution.
"I witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by radiology departments in delivering timely and accurate diagnoses," he says, adding that the AI-assisted teleradiology platform is "connecting health facilities in Kenya and Egypt with a global network of radiologists."
"Medical images, such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs, are securely uploaded to the cloud, where they are processed by AI algorithms to identify potential anomalies and therefore, assist in diagnosis," Abodraiaa says, "Our aim was to create a solution that would address the inefficiencies and gaps in radiological services, particularly in underserved areas."
Abodraiaa explains that a significant challenge was the development of a system that seamlessly integrates with existing hospital infrastructure, allowing for hospitals to set-up with just a PC and an internet connection.
"Our work at Rology is critical because it directly impacts healthcare delivery by making radiological services more accessible, efficient, and accurate," he says, "This is particularly important in parts of the world where there is a dire need for such services due to a shortage of specialized medical professionals."
According to Mahmoud Barakat, Associate CEO at Rology, Kenya has only 200 radiologists available to serve a staggering 3,020 hospitals, and the disparity is even more pronounced in rural areas, where 72.5% of the population resides.
"The ramifications of this shortage manifest in higher maternal mortality rates, missed diagnoses, and delayed treatments," Barakat says.
In 2023, Rology was selected by MIT Solve as a winner of the Health in Fragile Contexts Challenge/ Global Challenges in the health pillar.
From Egypt To The World
Growing up in Damanhour, Behira, Egypt, Abodraiaa was deeply impacted by the stark disparities between urban and rural areas, saying he was brought up with the aspiration of becoming a skilled physician or surgeon, dedicated to saving lives.
"This experience laid the foundation for my future endeavors in healthcare, particularly in bridging these gaps," he says, adding that his trajectory shifted significantly when his father introduced the first computer to their home.
Abodraiaa says he chose a path in computer science and coding to communicate with these machines, adding, "As I matured and delved into the tech world, the initial desire to save lives continued to resonate within me, eventually leading me to the realization that I could fulfill this calling through the realm of health-tech."
"As an entrepreneur from the Global South, I believe that we bring vital perspectives and understanding to the table, which are often overlooked or underrepresented in global scientific discourse," he says, adding that entrepreneurs and scientists from the Global South experience their challenges firsthand and are therefore uniquely positioned to develop practical, culturally sensitive, and sustainable solutions.
Abodraiaa says scientists and entrepreneurs in these regions have become adept at finding cost-effective, innovative solutions that can be built at scale and have a significant impact.
"The Global South is a hub of innovation and resilience," he says.
Radiologist examining x-ray underneath the surgical theatre lights (Photo by Universal Images Group ... [+]
Artificial Intelligence To Help Maternal Health
Another entrepreneur using AI to improve outcomes for health in Africa is Tafadzwa Kalisto Munzwa, founder and CEO of Dawa Health, headquartered in Lusaka, Zambia.
He explains that their DawaMom project leverages AI-tools, last-mile health workers, mobile clinics, and digital tools to improve maternal and child health.
The hope is that the AI-powered health platform democratizes access to maternal health care through a network of community health workers to achieve universal health coverage in Lower/Middle income countries and curb maternal mortality
"The additional research and datasets we are currently developing focus on postpartum hemorrhage and obstructed labor-cephalic-pelvic disproportion (CPD) using multiple maternal and fetal variables, Munzwa says, "We believe the models will help first-level clinicians (clinical officers, midwives, and medical licentiates) identify more high-risk pregnancies in time for referrals."
