#India #New Delhi #Gates Foundation #Novo Nordisk #Wellcome

Groundbreaking AI Initiative to Transform Health in Developing Countries

In a significant advancement for health care in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), a collaborative initiative involving the Gates Foundation, Novo Nordisk Foundation, and Wellcome has been launched. This partnership has announced a remarkable investment of $60 million aimed at evaluating artificial intelligence (AI) tools designed to enhance health outcomes. The initiative is termed Evidence for AI in Health (EVAH) and it seeks to support research and implement strategies that will effectively utilize AI in health systems where it is most needed.

The announcement was made during the AI Impact Summit held in New Delhi. This initiative is particularly timely as it addresses a pressing gap in evidence surrounding the application of AI technologies in real-world health care settings across LMICs. By focusing on AI tools that have progressed beyond their developmental stages, EVAH aims to provide decision-makers in health policy, providers, and technology developers with critical insights needed to adopt and scale these innovations.

Dr. Bosun Tijani, Nigeria's Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, emphasized the potential of AI technology to enhance health care effectiveness across Africa. He expressed confidence that this partnership would yield vital information to guide responsible health policy and ultimately foster improved health outcomes and economic growth throughout the continent.

The first call for proposals for EVAH is now open, encouraging evaluations of AI techniques that aid frontline health workers in essential clinical functions like triage, diagnosis, and referrals. Aimed at regions including sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, the initiative will partner with Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) and the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), who will manage the application and evaluation processes.

Digital Transformation in Healthcare

“Digitalization coupled with AI can vastly improve healthcare across the globe. Our goal is to ensure that these advancements are accessible to everyone, regardless of their location,” stated Charlotte Watts, Executive Director of Solutions at Wellcome. Despite the rapid advancements in AI, there remains a significant lack of validated evidence regarding its potential impact on health care delivery in LMICs. By investing in initiatives like EVAH, stakeholders hope to bridge this gap, ensuring these technologies are integrated feasibly into local health services.

Research from The Lancet indicated a stark revelation: of the 86 randomized clinical trials studying AI health applications from 2018 to 2023, only four were conducted in LMICs. This highlights a considerable void in knowledge, hampering effective AI integration within health systems in these regions.

The EVAH initiative will not only provide an assessment of AI's effectiveness but will also conduct economic analyses to understand the financial implications and public perceptions of these technologies. All results from the evaluations will (crucially) be disseminated through open-access channels to maximize their reach and impact while maintaining data privacy and complying with ethical standards.

Prioritizing Local Needs and Global Solutions

Selected AI tools will comprise a variety of technologies such as machine learning algorithms, computer vision solutions, and large language models, developed based on dialogue with country stakeholders. This approach prioritizes tools that have been trained on diverse datasets and are adaptable to resource-limited settings, ensuring they offer public benefits aligned with local health priorities.

Trevor Mundel, President of Global Health at the Gates Foundation, noted, “AI holds exceptional promise in diminishing health disparities and enabling health systems to offer personalized care effectively. Assuring the safety and efficacy of new AI technologies can significantly expedite turning innovative ideas into scalable solutions tailored to local requirements.”

Overall, the EVAH initiative represents a critical step toward enhancing health care delivery and outcomes across LMICs. By combining rigorous research with partnership and investment, it sets the stage for a supportive framework where AI can be harnessed effectively to meet the diverse health needs of vulnerable communities. The successful implementation of this initiative could redefine health service delivery, ensuring equitable access to health innovations that ultimately improve lives in some of the world’s most underserved regions.