The AI4GH community of practice: strengthening LMIC-Led artificial intelligence for global health
Efforts to research, implement and scale responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) for addressing health challenges in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are often fragmented. It limits collaboration and slows progress. Communities of Practice (CoPs) offer a promising approach to fostering shared learning and supporting the use of AI to strengthen health systems and improve health outcomes. The Artificial Intelligence for Global Health Community of Practice (AI4GH CoP), established in 2023, connects researchers, implementers and policymakers across the Global South to co-create and scale responsible AI solutions for public health priorities. This case study examines the design, functioning and outputs of the AI4GH CoP using a structured community roadmap. It illustrates a model for advancing responsible AI in LMICs by reinforcing local expertise and facilitating context-specific knowledge exchange and capacity building in ethical, regulatory and operational aspects of AI in global health. These lessons can inform the establishment of similar CoPs.
Authors
- Anneka Wickramanayake (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-5687-5355)
- Marina Bowder
- Mylena Maria Guedes de Almeida (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9333-512X)
- Bryain Maradiaga-Mendoza
- Peiling Yap (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5964-8210)
- Marina AlBada (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3264-1329)
- Salvia Zeeshan
- Prince Adjei (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0439-1938)
- Simran Siraj
- Trudie Lang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2273-5975)
- Rosalind Parkes-Ratanshi
- Cintia Cejas
- Nour El Arnaout
- Adam Dale
- Mercedes Rumi
Institutions
- Global Forum for Health Research (CH)
- Queen's University Belfast (GB)
- University of Karachi (PK)
- Angkor Hospital for Children (KH)
- Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre (GB)
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (GH)
- University of Oxford (GB)
- Infectious Diseases Institute (UG)
- Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria (AR)
- Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (GH)
- Makerere University (UG)
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo (BR)
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (DE)
- American University of Beirut (LB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- npj Digital Medicine
- Published
- 2026-05-21
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-026-02748-6
- Primary Topic
- Global Health and Surgery
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- International Development Research Centre
- University of Oxford