Novartis Foundation

It drives cardiovascular health improvements through AI4BetterHearts, a collaborative platform analyzing heart health data for informed decision-making. Partnering with Microsoft AI for Health, it pools global data to transform healthcare systems from reactive to proactive using machine learning insights. Teaming up with Harvard Health Systems Innovation Lab, it analyzes health system performance across 80+ countries. Additionally, it supports the World Heart Observatory, providing comprehensive data visualization on cardiovascular conditions and health policies.

It drives HealthTech innovation for population health, emphasizing tech's role in healthcare transformation. It educates decision-makers on tech's potential to extend healthcare access, emphasizing data, technology, and AI's pivotal role in systemic change. The HealthTech Hub Africa accelerates tech development across Africa, supporting startups, creating jobs, and broadening outreach significantly. Collaborating with Rwanda's Ministry of Health, it held a Cardiovascular health tech Challenge, funding a digital health companion startup. Projects like AI4Leprosy and a São Paulo-based AI aiding COVID-19 diagnosis showcase diverse tech-driven healthcare initiatives. For almost a decade, their people-centric, scalable digital health initiatives have thrived. Its role in the Broadband Commission Working Group on Virtual Health and Care further advances sustainable digital and AI health strategies globally.

The Foundation focuses on tackling cardiovascular disease globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Through its programme, it collaborates with city authorities to implement data-driven strategies, aiming to enhance cardiovascular health and diminish health disparities. This initiative, known as CARDIO4Cities, involves using data for informed decision-making in healthcare systems, adopting emerging HealthTech innovations, and drawing from global best practices in digital health solutions. Initial implementation in São Paulo, Dakar, and Ulaanbaatar showcased significant improvements in hypertension control rates, a key factor in cardiovascular disease, leading to potential reductions of up to 13% in strokes and 12% in heart attacks. Evidence from a paper in PLOS Global Public Health (April 2023) supports the cost-effectiveness of CARDIO4Cities in addressing the mounting burden of cardiovascular disease in urban areas worldwide.

The Foundation collaborates with Governments worldwide, focusing on integrating AI into health policies for safer, more inclusive healthcare systems. Acknowledging diverse urban health challenges, including cardiovascular disease and pandemic impacts, it leverages data and AI to shift health systems from reactive to proactive, predictive models. The AI4HealthyCities Health Equity Network gathers and analyses data from various sectors, highlighting social, economic, and environmental factors influencing heart health. These insights empower city authorities to allocate resources effectively, aiming to reduce heart health disparities among neighbouring communities. The initiative, developed with Microsoft AI for Health, launched in New York, investigating factors like racism and housing in heart health. Its summits and digital tools further promote health equity and guide impactful AI solutions for global health strategies.