The Sindh Health Department has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the People’s Primary Healthcare Initiative (PPHI) and the Centre for Economic Research in Pakistan (CERP) to introduce artificial intelligence-powered handheld ultrasound devices in primary healthcare centers across underserved districts.
Backed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the project will initially roll out 20 devices in six districts, aiming to improve access to essential diagnostic imaging for pregnant women in areas without traditional ultrasound facilities.
The pilot initiative will also evaluate how AI-enabled ultrasounds contribute to early registration in the Sindh Social Protection Authority’s Mamta Programme.
Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, while addressing the signing ceremony, said the introduction of AI technology at the primary care level would “eliminate obstacles to healthcare access and strengthen referral systems for pregnant women and newborns in rural parts of Sindh.”
Zeina Sifri, Senior Programme Officer at the Gates Foundation, highlighted that the collaboration demonstrates Sindh’s commitment to maternal health innovation, ensuring that “pregnancies are identified sooner and mothers receive timely interventions.”
Under this pilot, ultrasound scans will become part of routine maternal and child health services provided through the Mamta Programme. Health workers will be trained in using the devices, performing safe scans, and following referral protocols to ensure seamless care from community clinics to advanced medical facilities.
