The Bill Gates Foundation has partnered with Sam Altman’s OpenAI to improve healthcare in Africa.
According to a report by Reuters, the Gates Foundation and OpenAI are launching a new £50 million initiative, Horizon1000, that aims to introduce AI tools into primary healthcare clinics across several African countries….starting with Rwanda.
The aim is to reach 1,000 clinics and surrounding communities by 2028,
AI News reports: The timing is not accidental as global development assistance for health fell by just under 27% last year compared to 2024, the Gates Foundation estimates, following cuts that began in the United States and spread to other major donors such as Britain and Germany. Those reductions have coincided with the first rise in preventable child deaths this century, adding pressure to health systems already stretched thin.
Rather than focusing on advanced diagnostics or research, Horizon1000 is framed around everyday tasks that consume time in under-resourced clinics. AI tools under the programme are expected to assist with patient intake, triage, record keeping, appointment scheduling, and access to medical guidance, particularly in settings where one doctor may serve tens of thousands of people.
Gates Foundation and OpenAI focus on AI support in healthcare
“In poorer countries with enormous health worker shortages and lack of health systems infrastructure, AI can be a gamechanger in expanding access to quality care,” Bill Gates wrote in a blog post announcing the initiative. Speaking to Reuters at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Gates said the technology could help health systems recover after aid cuts slowed progress.
“Our commitment is that that revolution will at least happen in the poor countries as quickly as it happens in the rich countries,” he said.
The focus, according to both partners, is on supporting healthcare workers rather than replacing them. OpenAI is expected to provide technical expertise and AI systems, while the Gates Foundation will work with African governments and health authorities to oversee deployment and alignment with national guidelines.
Rwanda was chosen as the first pilot country in part because of its existing digital health efforts. The country established an AI health hub in Kigali last year and has positioned itself as a testbed for health technology projects. Paula Ingabire, Rwanda’s minister of information and communications technology and innovation, said the goal is to reduce administrative burdens while expanding access.
“It is about using AI responsibly to reduce the burden on healthcare workers, to improve the quality of care, and to reach more patients,” Ingabire said in a video statement released alongside the launch.
Under Horizon1000, AI tools may also be used before patients reach clinics. Gates told Reuters the systems could support pregnant women and HIV patients with guidance ahead of visits, especially when language barriers exist between patients and providers.