The African Development Bank Group has entered into an agreement with the HealthTech Hub Africa to support the development of a pan-African blueprint to fast-track health tech innovations across the continent.
The partnership is expected to address growing demand from African governments for solutions that close national health infrastructure gaps, and to extend affordable health services to underserved and vulnerable communities. It will also accelerate the adoption of advanced health technologies across the continent and promote growth of the sector.
Founded by the Novartis Foundation and partners, the HealthTech Hub Africa is a hybrid, pan-African health tech accelerator with a physical co-working and community space in Kigali, Rwanda.
Dr Ann Aerts, Head of the Novartis Foundation, said: "By fostering a conducive environment for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and growth, this collaboration seeks to further empower health tech innovators and startups, enhancing their capabilities and facilitating transformative innovations."
The African Development Bank will work with the HealthTech Hub Africa to accelerate the scale-up of patient-centric telemedicine and teleconsultation services, improved data sharing, patient record tracking software and artificial intelligence-powered diagnostic and screening tools into Africa's healthcare systems.
"This collaboration will develop actionable recommendations that address capacity gaps for health technology innovations in Africa," said Dr. Babatunde Omilola, African Development Bank Division Manager responsible for implementing the
Bank's Strategy for Quality Health Infrastructure in Africa. "This will ultimately enhance the way health care is delivered and improve patient outcomes."
Since its launch, the HealthTech Hub Africa has supported sixty-eight organizations across 17 African countries, working on issues such as cardiovascular disease, breast cancer as well as data and digital systems to strengthen healthcare delivery. In the last 1.5 years, two cohorts of innovators have impacted some 2.35 million beneficiaries, raised over $18 million in funding and created more than 830 new jobs.
The agreement was announced during the HealthTech Africa Investor Summit, held on 16 October 2023.
