The Gates Foundation and OpenAI have launched a USD 50 million initiative aimed at deploying artificial intelligence (AI) tools across 1,000 primary healthcare clinics in sub-Saharan Africa by 2028.
According to legendary American businessman and philanthropist Bill Gates, who also co-chairs the Gates Foundation, the initiative’s goal is to double the continent’s healthcare efficiency by eliminating paperwork and optimising resource management, ensuring patients have clear information on what services are available and when to seek care.
The project, titled “Horizon1000,” will provide funding, technology and technical support to accelerate the adoption of AI across primary care clinics, communities and homes. The initiative’s tools are designed to support, rather than replace, African healthcare workers by handling tasks such as patient triage, follow-up planning, referrals, and providing access to medical information that aligns with national clinical guidelines.
The AI systems will operate similarly, by deploying tools that have already been operationalised in wealthier countries, such as transcription tools, virtual doctors and automated diagnosis platforms.
“As part of the Horizon1000 initiative, we aim to accelerate the adoption of AI tools across primary care clinics, within communities, and in people’s homes. These AI tools will support health workers, not replace them. Over the next few years, we will collaborate with leaders in African countries as they pioneer the deployment of AI in healthcare,” Bill Gates stated.
According to the pact, OpenAI will provide the necessary technology and expertise, while the Gates Foundation will oversee the implementation process in collaboration with African governments.
Sub-Saharan Africa currently has a shortage of almost six million healthcare workers. Rwanda, the first beneficiary of “Horizon1000,” right now has only one healthcare worker for every 1,000 people, which is far below the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendation of four per 1,000.