The need for localized evidence in AI healthcare applications is critical, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where healthcare systems are often strained. Currently, only four out of 86 randomized clinical trials on AI health tools conducted globally from 2018 to 2023 took place in these regions, highlighting a significant gap in testing AI technologies suited to local contexts.
To address this issue, the Evidence for AI in Health (EVAH) initiative has introduced a funding program that seeks to evaluate AI-enabled clinical decision support tools used by health workers in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. This initiative, backed by the Wellcome Trust, the Gates Foundation, and the Novo Nordisk Foundation, invites proposals for two funding pathways.
Pathway A offers up to $1 million for projects lasting between three to twelve months, focusing on early-stage AI tools. Meanwhile, Pathway B provides funding of up to $3 million for tools ready to scale, with an emphasis on measurable health outcomes and system efficiency over a timeline of twelve to twenty-four months. Both pathways require established partnerships and tools that have progressed beyond the proof-of-concept phase.