Kazakhstan Tests AI to Detect Spina Bifida in Pregnancy Screenings

AI to Help Detect Spina Bifida in Regional Clinics

Clinics across the region will soon use artificial intelligence to identify spina bifida—a congenital defect in the development of the fetus's spine and spinal cord. Though rare, this condition can lead to paralysis and pose a life-threatening risk to newborns. The digital early detection initiative is being rolled out in the region through a partnership between Yandex Qazaqstan and local health authorities.

"Our region was not chosen by chance for this pilot project," noted Aslan Temirov, head of the maternal and child health department at the regional health authority. "Yandex's AI specialists visited us, assessed our infrastructure, and confirmed their decision. Our region is making steady progress in digital transformation, with both the technical capabilities and a team of experienced professionals in place."

How does the AI work? Using computer vision technology, the system analyzes ultrasound images of the fetus, highlighting normal and abnormal findings for the physician. The neural network detects minute details that the human eye might overlook. Importantly, the AI serves as an assistant—not a replacement for doctors, who retain final decision-making authority.

The first to adopt the digital assistant will be Clinic No. 3 in Karaganda. Once local physicians master the technology, it will be introduced across all medical facilities in the region that conduct screening ultrasounds. No additional equipment will be required; the software will be installed on existing computers. The AI will process ultrasound images without accessing patients' personal data, with cloud technology used for storage, analysis, and further neural network training.

Notably, Karaganda's doctors will use the platform free of charge. The system has already been tested in Russia at the V. I. Kulakov National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology, as well as in hospitals in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Yekaterinburg. Following a successful trial in Karaganda, the project may be expanded nationwide across Kazakhstan.