Telemedicine: The Situation in Morocco.

The Moroccan healthcare system is facing several challenges in ensuring equitable access to quality services and reducing or at least controlling their rising cost. Telemedicine can address these two needs by optimizing the use of existing human and material resources through telecommunications. Today, the gradual increase in the population's healthcare needs poses a major challenge to the Moroccan healthcare system, given the shortage of personnel in healthcare facilities and the persistent difficulties in accessing certain regions. In this regard, Morocco has established a regulatory framework defining the rules for the practice of telemedicine. Several initiatives have been launched, particularly in the public sector, aiming to cover 80% of medical deserts in Morocco by 2025.

Understanding and Use of Artificial Intelligence Among Doctors in a University Hospital in Morocco.

INTRODUCTION: Research and development in artificial intelligence (AI) has increased dramatically over the past decade, with all areas of life being affected and particularly the medical field. It is with this in mind that this study focused on the perceptions of AI by physicians at the University Hospital of Casablanca in Morocco. METHODS: A cross-sectional study conducted among physicians at the University Hospital of Casablanca in April 2023. A questionnaire was distributed electronically by sending it to the participants' email addresses. RESULTS: We received 103 responses to our questionnaire from physicians. The median age of the participants was 27 years with a range of 23-44 years. Concerning the seniority in clinical practice; about 59% had an experience ranging from 1 to 5 years,58% agreed that the use of medical artificial intelligence technologies will complete clinical tasks quickly, and 51% of these respondents agreed that these applications increase clinical performance. Prevalence of physicians using AI in daily life was 48% with a CI [38-57]%. The concerns perceived by the responding physicians regarding the use of artificial intelligence in the medical field were in 63% of the cases reported about the reduction of human contact with patients. CONCLUSION: In our study doctors have good knowledge in terms of artificial intelligence and they are open to develop their medical competences in relation with this artificial intelligence.

Mobile Applications for Family Planning.

INTRODUCTION: Family planning reduces maternal and child morbidity and mortality by promoting pregnancy spacing. The postpartum period is an ideal time for patients to access family planning services. Mobile applications can aid in accessing information about family planning. METHODS: A review was conducted on PubMed from 2012 to 2022, using keywords "mobile app," "family planning, "contraception,". RESULTS: Numerous studies have found as randomized controlled trials evaluating the use of mobile applications such as Decide + Be Ready in contraception. Other studies focused on healthcare providers' use of mobile apps for postpartum care and monitoring contraceptive methods. CONCLUSION: Mobile applications in family planning can assist healthcare providers in clinical care delivery is feasible and acceptable, saving time and providing accessible information.

Predictors of poor response to oral propranolol in infantile hemangiomas.

BACKGROUND: Propranolol is the first-line treatment for infantile hemangiomas (IH). Cases of propranolol-resistant infantile hemangiomas are rarely reported. The purpose of our study was to investigate the predictive factors for poor response to propranolol. METHODS: A prospective analytical study was conducted between January 2014 and January 2022 including all patients with IH who received oral propranolol therapy at a dose of 2-3 mg/kg/day maintained for at least 6 months. RESULTS: A total of 135 patients with IH were treated with oral propranolol. Poor response was reported in 18 (13.4%) of the patients: 72% were girls and 28% were boys. Overall, 84% of the IH were mixed, and hemangiomas were multiple in three cases (16%), nasal tip hemangiomas accounted for four cases (22%), and 15 patients (83%) had segmental hemangiomas. There was no significant association between the age or sex of the children and type of response to treatment (p > 0.05). No significant association was found between the type of hemangioma and the therapeutic outcome as well as the recurrence after treatment discontinuation (p > 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that nasal tip hemangiomas, multiple hemangiomas, and segmental hemangiomas were at greater risk of poor response to beta-blockers (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Poor response to propranolol therapy has rarely been reported in the literature. In our series, it was approximately 13.4%. To our knowledge, no previous publications have focused on the predictive factors of poor response to beta-blockers. However, the reported risk factors for recurrence are discontinuation of treatment before 12 months of age, mixed or deep type IH, and female gender. In our study, the predictive factors for poor response were multiple type IH, segmental type IH, and location on the nasal tip.

Current State and Prospects of Telemedicine in Morocco: Analysis of Challenges, Initiatives, and Regulatory Framework.

The Moroccan healthcare system is grappling with a pronounced lack of resources, particularly in terms of human personnel. Presently, Morocco has 28,892 doctors, which equates to a ratio of around 7.8 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants, whereas the WHO recommends a minimum of 23 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants. More than half of these doctors work along the Casablanca-Rabat axis, underscoring a significant disparity between urban and rural areas. In addition, about 270 rural municipalities find themselves in a state of critical medical isolation, denoting their location more than an hour away from a hospital facility. Among these municipalities, 160 are classified as priority, encompassing roughly two million inhabitants. Hence, the Moroccan healthcare system is confronted with several challenges in ensuring equitable access to quality services and curbing the escalating costs. Telemedicine holds the potential to address these twin needs by optimizing the utilization of existing human and material resources through telecommunications. In fact, telemedicine enables a reimagining of the healthcare landscape, promoting a territorial rebalancing in favor of regions with lower medical density. In this context, Morocco has established a regulatory framework outlining the rules for telemedicine practice. Numerous initiatives have emerged, particularly within the public sector, such as the National Telemedicine Initiative launched in October 2018, with the aim of covering 80% of medical deserts in Morocco by 2025. Nevertheless, despite the concerted efforts, there remain challenges to overcome in order to make strides and achieve the objectives set forth by the Moroccan healthcare system. This literature review aims to examine and analyze the current state of telemedicine in Morocco. It seeks to highlight the challenges, initiatives, regulatory progress, and existing gaps in the landscape of telemedicine in Morocco.