Digitization for Health in Africa – Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Health Equity and Universal Health Coverage in Africa

International Medical Exchange (IME), in strategic partnership with the International Society for Telemedicine & eHealth (ISfTeH), is pleased to announce the AI4African Health Initiative Global Executive Webinar Series, which kicks off on August 18, 2026. These two high-level webinars are designed as preliminary engagements leading up to the AI4African Health Initiative Stakeholder Conference, which will take place in Morocco in April 2027. The series will help shape the strategic agenda, align key stakeholders, and build momentum toward this major continental convening.

The AI4African Health Initiative aims to bring together national bodies such as Ministries of Health, Ministries dealing with Technology, and Development Finance Institutions, along with intergovernmental organizations such as WHO, Africa CDC, the African Union, as well as global technology leaders, academia, civil society and investors from across all 54 African countries, to mobilize collective action around AI-enabled health transformation.

The goal is to position Africa not merely as a recipient of digital health innovations, but as a leader in the ethical design, deployment, and scaling of AI-driven healthcare systems—rooted in African ownership, local contexts, and sustainable implementation.

Collaborating institutions on the AI4African Health Initiative include: the International Society for Telemedicine & eHealth (ISfTeH), the W. Montegue Cobb Institute of the national Medical Association, the Canada International Scientific Exchange Program (CISEPO), Health Informatics in Africa (HELINA), the South African Health Informatics Association (SAHIA), AiBizHiv, Lusaka Apex Medical University (LAMU), Wits University, and Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU). 

Program at a glance:

Opening remarks and strategic framing by IME & ISfTeH leadership

Keynote Address: The Future of AI in African Healthcare

Panel I: AI, Public Health & Disease Surveillance

Speakers: WHO AFRO, Africa CDC and invited experts

Panel II: Financing AI for Universal Health Coverage

Speakers: World Bank, Development Finance Institutions and Government representatives

Panel III: Natural Language Processing, Community Agency & Health Communication

Speakers: Exploring multilingual AI, digital inclusion, health literacy and citizen engagement

Strategic Partner Roundtable

Speakers: Google Cloud, African Union, HELINA and strategic partners discuss opportunities for collaboration and scale

Summary of key recommendations and pathways towards the Second Curtain Raiser and IME Africa 2026

Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_75xjzKZlSgegsHGUEL6geg

Click here for more info.