A Framework for Advancing Sustainable MRI Access in Africa

MRI technology has profoundly transformed current healthcare and research systems globally. The rapidly growing burden of non-communicable diseases in Africa has underscored the importance of improving access to MRI equipment as well as training and research opportunities on the continent. The Consortium for Advancement of MRI Education & Research in Africa (CAMERA) is a network of African experts, global partners, and ISMRM/ESMRMB members implementing novel strategies to advance MRI access and research in Africa. To identify challenges to MRI usage and provide a framework for addressing MRI needs in the region, CAMERA conducted a Needs Assessment Survey (NAS) and a series of symposia at international MRI society meetings over a 2-year period. The 68-question NAS was distributed to MRI users in Africa and completed by 157 clinicians and scientists from across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). On average, the number of MRI scanners per million people remained at <1, of which, 39% were obsolete low-field systems yet still in use to meet clinical needs. The feasibility of coupling stable energy supplies from various sources has contributed to the growing number of higher-field (1.5T) MRI scanners in the region. However, these systems are underutilized with only 8% of facilities reporting clinical scans of 15 or more patients daily per scanner. The most frequently reported MRI scans were neurological and musculoskeletal. Our NAS combined with the World Health Organization and International Atomic Energy Agency data provides the most up-to-date data on MRI density in Africa and offers unique insight into Africa’s MRI needs. Reported gaps in training, maintenance, and research capacity indicate ongoing challenges in providing sustainable high-value MRI access in SSA. Findings from the NAS and focused discussions at ISMRM and ESMRMB provided the basis for the framework presented here for advancing MRI capacity in SSA. ![Figure][1] Graphical Abstract Africa has a massive population with few infrastructural resources and an untapped potential to effect transformative change in healthcare. To advance MRI access across all African countries and meet the sustainable development goals of improving health and wellbeing in low-resource settings over the next decade, the MRI community is called to partner with CAMERA to create enabling clinical and research MRI environments that will utilize the rich intellectual resources in Africa to realize lasting and equitable MRI for all Africans and the world at large. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Funding Statement Funding for this work and CAMERA is partly supported by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) Expanding Global Access to Bioimaging RFA (2021-240505) and the Healthy Brain and Healthy Lives (HBHL) New Recruit Start-Up Supplements McGill University (2b-NISU-17). ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines and uploaded the relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material as supplementary files, if applicable. Yes All data produced in the present study are available upon reasonable request to the authors [1]: pending:yes