The partnership, dubbed Horizon1000, aims to support several African countries in deploying AI tools to improve healthcare delivery, starting with Rwanda. Bill Gates announced the initiative on Wednesday, saying AI could help address severe shortages of health workers and weak health system infrastructure in low-income countries.
'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,' Gates said in a blog post announcing the launch.
Speaking to Reuters on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Gates said the initiative comes at a critical time, after international aid cuts last year were followed by the first rise in preventable child deaths this century.
Aid cuts and pressure on health systems
International aid reductions began with the United States at the start of 2025 and later spread to other major donors, including Britain and Germany. Overall, global development assistance for health fell by nearly 27% last year compared to 2024, according to estimates by the Gates Foundation.
Gates said AI could help countries cope with the impact of these cuts by improving efficiency and quality of care.
'Using innovation, using AI, I think we can get back on track,' he told Reuters, adding that the technology would revolutionise healthcare. 'Our commitment is that that revolution will at least happen in the poor countries as quickly as it happens in the rich countries.'
Rwanda's growing AI health role
Rwanda was chosen in part because of its early investments in digital health and AI. Last year, the country established an AI health hub in Kigali, and recently launched an AI-powered Health Intelligence Center under its health sector reforms.
Rwanda is accelerating efforts to strengthen its health workforce through the 4x4 health sector strategy, launched in 2023 to quadruple the number of trained healthcare professionals within four years. With about one healthcare worker per 1,000 people, below the WHO recommendation of four per 1,000, officials say AI and other innovations will play a crucial role in expanding access and improving care quality nationwide.
'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,' Gates said, stressing that the technology is intended to support health workers, not replace them.
Paula Ingabire, Rwanda's minister of information and communications technology and innovation, said the focus would be on responsible use of AI to ease pressure on frontline staff.
'It is about using AI responsibly to reduce the burden on healthcare workers, to improve the quality of care, and to reach more patients,' she said.
Horizon1000 aims to reach 1,000 primary healthcare clinics and surrounding communities across several countries by 2028, through a mix of funding, technology, and technical support.
Gates said the initiative would likely prioritise care for pregnant women and people living with HIV, including providing AI-powered advice before patients reach clinics, particularly for those facing language barriers. Once at the clinic, AI tools could help reduce paperwork, link patient histories, and streamline appointments.
'A typical visit, we think, can be about twice as fast and much better quality,' Gates said.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
