Potential, Ethical Challenges, and Responsibility Framework
FEATURED PAPER
By Oumaima OMARI HARAKÉ
PhD candidate and researcher
Laboratoire CEREGE, Université de Poitiers
Poitiers, France
Introduction
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming global medical practices by offering powerful tools to enhance the quality and accessibility of care. The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that, when used correctly, AI can accelerate diagnoses, assist clinicians, bolster medical research, and support public health (e.g., epidemiological surveillance, pandemic response, and healthcare system management) (Lai et al., 2021). AI could also help reduce healthcare inequalities by assisting rural communities or countries with limited resources in addressing the shortage of healthcare professionals (Rao et al., 2020). However, as the WHO Director-General points out, “This technology holds enormous potential to improve the health of millions of people but can also be misused and cause harm” (Lai et al., 2021, p. 55). Thus, placing ethics and human rights at the heart of AI development and deployment in healthcare is critical (O’Neill et al., 2021).
In Morocco, a country facing significant healthcare challenges (e.g., medical professional shortages and regional disparities), AI has generated growing interest as a lever for innovation. Public and private initiatives are emerging to integrate AI into hospitals, research centers, and local health-tech startups. This paper provides an overview of AI adoption in Morocco’s healthcare system, examining the technologies used, involved actors, and specific pilot projects. We will analyze the current and potential benefits of AI in Morocco’s context (e.g., diagnosis, telemedicine, medical data management, and epidemiological prediction). We will then critically explore the ethical challenges raised by the use of AI in healthcare, particularly regarding informed consent, transparency, algorithmic biases, data protection, and the risk of exacerbating inequalities. The crucial issue of medical and legal responsibility in the event of an AI error will also be discussed: who is to blame—doctor, developer, or hospital—and what is the current regulatory framework in Morocco? Finally, recommendations will be made for the ethical, responsible, and sustainable adoption of AI in Moroccan healthcare.
Theoretical Framework: AI in Healthcare and Its Contextual Use
Artificial intelligence in healthcare refers to the use of computational models that can learn from medical data to assist professionals in decision-making or to autonomously perform specific tasks. AI can be employed in tasks such as medical image analysis (radiographs, MRI scans, CT scans) for detection of anomalies that radiologists might miss, or in AI systems analyzing clinical data to identify high-risk patients for complications (Esteva et al., 2017). The applications of AI cover a wide range: diagnostic assistance, robotic surgery, hospital workflow optimization, and personalized medicine, among others (Kumar & Lee, 2019). AI in healthcare has gained prominence over the past decade due to advancements in deep neural networks (deep learning) and the availability of large healthcare data sets (Rajpurkar et al., 2017). One pioneering study demonstrated that an AI algorithm could classify skin cancer images with precision equivalent to that of experienced dermatologists (Esteva et al., 2017). Since then, numerous studies have confirmed that AI systems can match or even exceed human performance on targeted tasks, while reducing errors. For instance, AI integration in medical diagnostics could decrease diagnostic errors by 25-30% compared to traditional methods, especially for complex or rare diseases (Wang et al., 2021).
In practice, three main areas of AI application in healthcare are often distinguished (Pereira et al., 2021): (1) diagnosis and treatment, including the automated analysis of medical images or signals and clinical decision support; (2) patient engagement and telemedicine, with AI-driven medical chatbots or remote monitoring systems; and (3) data and healthcare system management, where AI is used to organize medical records, plan resources, or detect epidemiological trends. In all cases, AI in healthcare is conceived as a tool for assistance, not a full replacement for human professionals. Humans remain at the center of decision-making—a fundamental principle emphasized by both international ethical frameworks (the principle of protecting human autonomy) and national health authorities. For example, in Morocco, it is clear from a regulatory standpoint that AI should never substitute clinical judgment in therapeutic decision-making (Moroccan Ministry of Health, 2020). The goal is rather to enhance healthcare professionals’ capabilities—by allowing them to analyze large volumes of information more quickly, detect correlations invisible to the human eye, or automate repetitive tasks to free up time for patient care (Benali et al., 2021).
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How to cite this paper: Omari Haraké, O. (2025). Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare in Morocco: Potential, Ethical Challenges, and Responsibility Framework; PM World Journal, Vol. XIV, Issue V, May. Available online at https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/pmwj152-May2025-Omari-Harake-Artificial-Intelligence-in-Healthcare-in-Morocco.pdf
About the Author
Oumaima OMARI HARAKÉ
France
Oumaima OMARI HARAKÉ is a PhD candidate in Management Sciences at the University of Poitiers, within the CEREGE research laboratory. Her doctoral research focuses on the appropriation of management tools in the French healthcare system during times of crisis, with a particular emphasis on the COVID-19 pandemic. Her research interests include public management, management control, and territorial resilience dynamics. With teaching experience both in France and internationally, she is also an active member of several academic networks (AIRMAP, EURAM, APMP, ARAMOS). Oumaima regularly participates in conferences and research projects related to public sector transformation and evaluation challenges.
She can be contacted at omarioumaima466@gmail.com and https://www.linkedin.com/in/oumaima-omari-harak%C3%A9-56931a5b/
