The Gates Foundation and OpenAI have announced a joint initiative, Horizon 1000, aimed at advancing artificial intelligence to improve primary healthcare across Africa.
The partnership will provide $50 million in funding, technology, and technical support to enhance healthcare delivery in 1,000 clinics and their surrounding communities by 2028, beginning with Rwanda.
Horizon 1000 addresses critical gaps in healthcare access and quality in Sub-Saharan Africa, where half the population lacks adequate primary care and the region faces a shortage of approximately 5.6 million health workers. The program aims to support health leaders and medical experts in deploying AI tools that can guide frontline health workers through complex clinical guidelines, reduce administrative burdens, and allow clinicians to spend more time on patient care.
The initiative also targets improving patient engagement, enabling communities to navigate healthcare more effectively using AI solutions. By combining funding, technology, and expertise, Horizon 1000 seeks to accelerate the translation of advanced AI models into practical, everyday healthcare tools that can improve outcomes and strengthen health systems.
Through Horizon 1000, OpenAI and the Gates Foundation will collaborate with governments and health leaders to scale digital health innovations, measure the impact on care delivery, and ensure that AI contributes meaningfully to resilient, equitable healthcare systems across Africa.
