Philanthropic Giants Launch AI Health Initiative
The Gates Foundation, Novo Nordisk Foundation, and Wellcome have launched a global partnership called EVAH to generate evidence on the real-world impact of AI tools in health. The initiative, which has opened a call for proposals, will have a strong focus on primary and maternal care in low- and middle-income countries. The goal is to produce robust, country-led research to guide the safe and equitable use of AI in health.
- The US$60 million EVAH initiative will be delivered over the next three years in partnership with the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) and the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC). The first call for proposals opened on February 20, 2026, with applications due by April 1, 2026. - The initiative will evaluate a wide range of AI technologies, including prediction models to assess disease risk, computer vision to analyze X-rays or ultrasound scans, and large language models to support health workers with clinical documentation. - Globally, approximately 287,000 maternal deaths occurred in 2020, with almost 95% of them in low- and middle-income countries. Researchers have found that AI applications can predict 48% of maternal complications using electronic medical records and have predicted neonatal mortality with 99.7% accuracy. - Key challenges in delivering maternal healthcare in rural and low-resource settings include inadequate equipment, staff shortages, and long distances to facilities, issues that AI-driven tools for decision support and remote monitoring aim to address. - A 2024 scoping review concluded there is an urgent need to integrate AI technologies into midwifery education to ensure future midwives can actively participate in AI-related research and initiatives. - In Virginia, recent legislation (HB 1904), effective July 1, 2025, helps address maternity care shortages by allowing certified nurse-midwives to serve on 24-hour on-call rosters for nursery care when a physician is unavailable. - This legislative change is critical as approximately 36% of Virginia's counties are classified as "maternity care deserts," lacking adequate access to hospitals with obstetric care, birth centers, or specialized providers. - As of July 2025, Virginia grants certified nurse-midwives full independent practice authority after they complete 1,000 hours of supervised clinical experience, positioning the state as a leader in midwifery practice autonomy.
