Expanding access to magnetoencephalography in the Global South: Pathways for policy, technology, and equity

Neurological disorders are the leading cause of disability worldwide, yet access to advanced neurodiagnostic technologies remains highly uneven. Magnetoencephalography (MEG) provides non-invasive millisecond-resolved measurement of neuronal activity and complements electroencephalography and magnetic resonance imaging. However, MEG infrastructure remains concentrated in the Global North, reflecting the cost, maintenance, and facility requirements of conventional systems. Our source-audited census identified 155 publicly verifiable operational human-MEG facilities across 29 countries or economies, of which 28 (18.1%) were in the Global South; our search identified no publicly verifiable operational human-MEG facility in Africa. Population-normalised availability was approximately 0.40 facilities per 100 million people in the Global South compared with 9.41 per 100 million in the Global North. Recent advances in room-temperature MEG, including optically pumped magnetometers and emerging solid-state approaches, may reduce infrastructure barriers to deployment, broaden participation in MEG research, and expand clinical capacity. However, technological adoption alone does not ensure equitable access. We therefore propose a policy framework centred on global alignment, regional demonstration networks, and sustained local capacity building to help ensure that next-generation MEG contributes to more equitable neurological care and neuroscience participation.