Rwanda’s new Health Intelligence Centre turns data into action – from scaling TB screening to targeting HIV prevention tracking outbreaks. (Photo: Global fund)

The initiative, known as Horizon 1000, was officially announced on Tuesday as a pilot program that will begin in Rwanda before expanding to other African countries. Its ambitious goal is to support 1,000 primary health care clinics and their surrounding communities by 2028, combining funding, advanced AI technology, and technical expertise.

Under the partnership, OpenAI and the Gates Foundation are committing $50 million (Sh6.5 billion) in financial resources and technology to help African health leaders shift AI innovations from experimentation to real-world deployment in everyday clinical settings.

Rwanda was selected as the pilot country due to its strong track record in digital health innovation, coordinated health system, and readiness to move from AI experimentation to real-world deployment in primary healthcare.

Officials say the country’s experience in integrating technology into community-based care makes it well-positioned to test, govern, and scale AI tools before the initiative expands to other African countries.

“Primary health care remains the backbone of resilient health systems, yet it is still inaccessible to nearly half of the world’s population. The challenge is particularly acute in sub-Saharan Africa, where the region faces a health workforce shortage estimated at 5.6 million workers,” Open AI said in a statement.

“This gap places enormous pressure on existing doctors, nurses, and community health workers, while contributing to inconsistent quality of care and preventable deaths.”

How the AI will work in clinics

The AI technology introduced through Horizon 1000 is designed to support, not replace, doctors and nurses. According to the initiative’s partners, AI tools will assist health workers in several key ways:

1. Clinical decision support, helping clinicians navigate complex national medical guidelines and make more informed care decisions.

2. Reducing administrative burden by supporting documentation, reporting, and follow-up reminders, allowing health workers to spend more time with patients.

3. Improving patient intake, triage, and referrals, helping clinics prioritise care more effectively.

4. Expanding access to health information, including support in local languages where feasible, to improve understanding and patient engagement.

5. By embedding these tools into routine care, the initiative aims to turn recent advances in AI into practical solutions that work in real-world health settings.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman emphasised that the success of AI in health care depends on its real-world impact.

“AI is going to be a scientific marvel no matter what, but for it to be a societal marvel, we’ve got to figure out ways that we use this incredible technology to improve people’s lives,” Altman said.

The partners behind Horizon 1000 say they will measure success not by technological milestones alone, but by improvements in patient care and the daily experience of the health workers who serve communities.

Rwanda has been actively exploring digital health and AI for several years, which is a key reason it was chosen ahead of other countries.

However, Rwanda is the starting point, and according to Altman, it is not the only country.

Horizon 1000 is designed to expand to multiple African countries, and Kenya, which also has strong digital health and AI ecosystems, remains a likely candidate in later phases.

“AI tools can help frontline health workers navigate complex guidelines and reduce administrative burden, so clinicians can spend more time on care. We also know people want more agency over their health, and many are already turning to AI to help navigate their own care.”