The global health equity community is buzzing over the announcement by pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca that it has launched a new innovation initiative, called Africa Health Innovation Hub, as part of the company’s continued efforts to increase access to healthcare across the continent. The hub will make use of technology, including artificial intelligence, and will focus on areas such as education, early diagnosis, and data generation.
AstraZeneca has committed to working with governments, healthcare societies, academia, healthcare providers, and patient advocacy groups to improve healthcare outcomes for patients in Africa. The hub is part of the global A. Catalyst Network, which consists of over 20 hubs across the globe whose objective is to achieve affordable and equal access to healthcare by fostering collaborative innovation.
Two new partnerships, one with MedSol AI Solutions in South Africa, and another with Tricog Health Limited in Kenya, will respectively assist in improving the prompt detection and management of breast cancer and heart failure.
Fuel Africa, the largest healthcare entrepreneurship program in Sub-Saharan Africa, initiated last year, also will form part of the Africa Health Innovation Hub.
The program is in line with AstraZeneca’s goal of fortifying and securing health systems throughout the entire patient experience, ensuring that all individuals have equal and economical entry to transformative healthcare remedies.
