Neuroimaging Inequities in Africa: Health system readiness, diagnostic capacity, and an embedded case study of portable ultra-low-field MRI implementation in Ethiopia

MRI and CT diagnostic imaging capacity in Africa is low, with 0.11 MRI and 0.42 CT scanners per million population, alongside major gaps in workforce and infrastructure.

• Why it matters: Neurological conditions such as stroke, dementia, and central nervous system infections impose a disproportionate burden, but advanced imaging access remains limited in resource-constrained regions.
• What they did: Capacity and health system readiness were quantified using the World Health Organization Global Health Observatory Database, and feasibility was examined via a qualitative case study of a 0.064T ULF-MRI Hyperfine Swoop system deployed in an Ethiopian regional specialized hospital.
• The result: The Ethiopian case study suggests ULF-MRI may be promising for expanding neuroimaging access by integrating into routine clinical practice with relatively modest infrastructure and personnel requirements.