AstraZeneca Launches Africa Health Innovation Hub

AstraZeneca, a global pharmaceutical company has launched the Africa Health Innovation Hub that will employ use the latest science and technology to improve access to healthcare for patients on the continent.

According to AstraZeneca, the Africa Health Innovation Hub is the latest in the global A. Catalyst Network, a connected array of over 20 hubs worldwide. The network seeks to tackle current healthcare challenges through collaborative innovation, promote affordable and equitable healthcare access, and amplify patient-centred innovation through strategic alliances within the healthcare ecosystem.

AstraZeneca said the Africa Health Innovation Hub will also invest in building local talent, promote policy change for cancer screening, close the gaps in healthcare access and improve the quality of life for patients in the African region, particularly in rural and underserved communities. These objectives are aligned with the four pillars of AstraZeneca’s A. Catalyst Network: Education and Awareness, Early Diagnosis and Referral, Connectivity and Technology, and Data Generation.

Gagan Singh, Country President, African Cluster, AstraZeneca, stated, “AstraZeneca aims to strengthen and future-proof health systems across the whole patient journey, ensuring everyone has equitable and affordable access to the life-changing healthcare solutions they need, regardless of where they live. The launch of the Africa Health Innovation Hub is a significant step in our goal to unlock digital transformation and innovation in health across the continent, paving the way for patient-centric digital health solutions that leave no one behind. By working with partners across the continent, we are nurturing local talent and making quality health care more accessible for all.”

The company also announced new partnerships that will form the backbone of the Hub in its initial phases. In South Africa, AstraZeneca said it is partnering with MEDSOL AI SOLUTIONS to help promote the use of AI in the detection of disease through a state-of-the-art Wi-Fi ultrasound probe that can detect breast cancer in seconds.

In Kenya, the company said it is expanding an already successful collaboration with Tricog Health Limited. “After a few years of piloting an AI technology that connects ACS patients to health professionals and routes them to the appropriate facilities, enabling early cardio-renal complications to be addressed in India, the African hub aims to enhance early diagnosis and treatment of heart failure using Tricog’s AI tools for rapid diagnosis, reducing mortality rates and improving quality of life”.