Sindh Launches AI-Powered Ultrasound Project to Improve Maternal Healthcare
The Sindh Health Department has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the People’s Primary Healthcare Initiative (PPHI) and the Centre for Economic Research in Pakistan (CERP) to bring artificial intelligence-powered handheld ultrasound devices to primary healthcare centers across underserved districts.
Backed by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the project will begin with 20 AI-enabled ultrasound devices in six districts. The initiative is designed to expand access to diagnostic imaging for pregnant women in remote areas where conventional ultrasound facilities are not available.
The pilot program will also study how AI-based ultrasounds can support early registration in the Sindh Social Protection Authority’s Mamta Programme, which provides maternal and child health services.
Minister’s Remarks on Healthcare Innovation
At the MoU signing ceremony, Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho emphasized that AI-driven technology at the primary care level will “remove barriers to healthcare access and strengthen referral systems for mothers and newborns in rural Sindh.”
Zeina Sifri, Senior Programme Officer at the Gates Foundation, added that the partnership highlights Sindh’s commitment to maternal health innovation, ensuring “pregnancies are identified earlier and mothers receive timely medical support.”
Integration with Mamta Programme
As part of the initiative, ultrasound scans will be incorporated into routine maternal and child healthcare. Health workers will receive training to use the devices safely, perform scans effectively, and follow proper referral protocols. This ensures continuity of care from local clinics to advanced medical facilities.
A Step Toward Stronger Maternal Care
The introduction of AI-enabled ultrasound devices is expected to improve maternal health outcomes across Sindh by making advanced diagnostics more accessible in underserved communities.
