Circle
Revolutionizing African Healthcare
The AI Promise?
Circle: Revolutionizing African Healthcare
October 14, 2024
World Health Summit, Berlin
AI is projected to generate $1.2 trillion in economic growth for Africa and could revolutionize healthcare systems across the continent. This rapidly evolving technology is significantly disrupting the healthcare landscape by tackling critical challenges such as disease outbreaks, structural inequalities, and shortages of qualified professionals. AI has the potential to address barriers to accessibility and affordability, while harnessing data to improve and expand access to quality health services.
However, practical issues regarding the adoption of AI in Africa’s healthcare sector, such as the lack of quality data, limited technical skills, and inadequate digital infrastructure, impede the long-term sustainability of successful existing AI projects. Our Circle at the World Health Summit therefore explored the greatest potential of AI to transform health systems in Africa, showcasing best practices and discussing strategies to overcome these challenges.
Dr. Ricardo Baptista Leite (CEO, HealthAI)
Key Takeaways
Data and Digital Divide
There is a significant data gap between the Global South and the Global North, and data has become the most valuable resource globally. Closing this gap requires policies, laws, and equitable access to technology and digital skills.
Trust and Governance
Building public trust in AI is essential, and this requires transparency, responsible governance, and trustworthy partnerships.
AI as a Solution
AI has the potential to address workforce shortages, especially in healthcare, and could become the greatest equalizer of our time if used fairly and responsibly.
Collaboration and Ownership
Effective AI implementation depends on collaboration across sectors, with a focus on African data ownership and creating region-specific standards to ensure equitable outcomes.
Speakers
Contact Persons
Rhoda Berger, r.berger@globalperspectives.org
Circle
We believe in proximity building trust. Our most personal format therefore offers the opportunity to deepen the knowledge of our high-ranking guests in a small circle, together with an exchange of experiences, in dialogue.
Program Archive
Our discussion at Raw Material Congress focused on fostering smart and sustainable European-African partnerships in raw materials to meet demand, boost African growth, and support energy transitions.
The Summit of the Future and the Hamburg Sustainability Conference attracted worldwide attention. We discussed the implementation of the resolutions into concrete changes.
We explored current trends and developments in Africa's financial sector and discussed the actions needed by businesses and governments to improve the financial landscape on the continent.
The distribution of power in the international system is changing. We interviewed 10 experts from the so-called 'Global South' to get their insight into their perception of Germany's role.
Africa's creative industries are booming and changing the global cultural landscape. We discussed the growing industry with Nollywood director Funke Akindele and writer Lola Shoneyin.
Investments in women's health are threatened by budget cuts and anti-gender movements. In our webinar, we discussed innovative strategies to drive progress in our digital dialogue.
The inequalities in the global health system have a significant impact on the financial situation of women. We discussed economic growth through equal opportunities.
Together with David Miliband, CEO & President of IRC, and selected stakeholders from politics, business, academia, we discussed Germany's responsibilities in an international system in crisis.
In conversation with Anna Bjerde and other representatives from politics, business, and academia, we discussed efforts in fostering sustainable development.