AI 101 Masterclass for the Health Sector | AHAIC 2025 | Kigali, Rwanda

Описание: At the Africa Health Agenda International Conference (AHAIC) 2025 in Kigali, Rwanda, the AI 101 Master Class for the Health Sector brought together over 120 participants from across Africa and beyond to explore AI’s transformative role in healthcare.

Representing Qhala were Rachel Osendo, Dr. Fred Mutisya, and Keith Mbae, hosted by Caroline Mbindyo from Amref Health Africa.

Key Insights from the Breakout Session

1.⁠ ⁠Countries & Sectors Engaged
The discussion featured participants from East, West, Central, and Southern Africa, as well as Germany, spanning sectors such as:
•⁠ ⁠Healthcare systems (hospitals, clinics, health ministries)
•⁠ ⁠Public health & NGOs
•⁠ ⁠Medical education & research institutions
•⁠ ⁠Pharmaceutical & supply chain management
•⁠ ⁠Regulatory bodies & health policy enforcement

2.⁠ ⁠AI’s Opportunities in Healthcare
•⁠ ⁠Big Data & Policy Insights – AI can drive evidence-based healthcare policymaking.
•⁠ ⁠Disease Prediction & Early Diagnosis – AI models help forecast outbreaks, drug resistance, and patient risks.
•⁠ ⁠Enhanced Service Delivery – AI improves workflow automation, task shifting, and remote monitoring.
•⁠ ⁠Supply Chain Optimisation – AI ensures efficient drug forecasting and distribution.
•⁠ ⁠Health Education – AI-powered platforms support continuous learning for healthcare professionals.

3.⁠ ⁠Challenges to AI Adoption
•⁠ ⁠Data Quality & Security – Inconsistent data and privacy concerns hinder AI effectiveness.
•⁠ ⁠Skill Gaps & Resistance – Limited AI literacy and skepticism slow adoption.
•⁠ ⁠Policy Gaps – Many African countries lack policy, legal and governance frameworks for AI in healthcare.
•⁠ ⁠Bias & Inclusivity – AI models must reflect African realities to ensure fair outcomes.

4.⁠ ⁠Poll Insights: AI in African Healthcare
•⁠ ⁠AI Knowledge Levels – Most participants rated their AI proficiency as moderate (Level 3).
•⁠ ⁠Public Perception – AI is seen as promising, revolutionary, a game-changer, the future though concerns about misuse persist.
•⁠ ⁠AI Performance Expectations – Most believe AI should perform better than human baselines in healthcare.
•⁠ ⁠Liability Concerns – Doctors & hospitals were seen as primarily responsible for AI-driven medical decisions.
•⁠ ⁠Preference for Open AI – Participants favoured transparent, data-independent AI models over closed, proprietary systems.

5.⁠ ⁠Call to Action: AI for Africa, by Africa
The session reinforced a critical message: Africa must shape AI in healthcare for its own needs. This requires:
•⁠ ⁠Developing African datasets to reduce AI bias.
•⁠ ⁠Investing in AI literacy & capacity building.
•⁠ ⁠Establishing clear policies & governance frameworks.
•⁠ ⁠Collaborating across sectors to drive ethical AI adoption.

The time for action is now. AI is not just the future of healthcare—it is the present. Let’s ensure it works for us, by us, and with us.

Stay tuned for the next AI 101 Master Class for the Health Sector!!!!

#AIinHealthcare #AHAIC2025 #AIforAfrica #DigitalHealth #HealthInnovation #TechForGood
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