AWS adds $20 million to cloud-based health initiative
Amazon Web Services said it hopes to further address health equity and improve access to healthcare with $20 million in additional funding for its ongoing global healthcare equity program targeting underserved communities.
In the funding announcement, AWS said it has now distributed more than $30 million to organizations that have deployed cloud technology to deliver care to historically underserved populations in 28 countries.
“We have seen participants in the Health Equity Initiative create incredible solutions that effectively address the gap in access to quality healthcare services,” said Danielle Morris, Global Health Equity Lead at AWS, in a statement.
“From helping build more diverse health data archives to using artificial intelligence (AI) for early stroke diagnoses, these organizations are developing game-changing solutions for populations with otherwise limited access”
Participants include startups, nonprofits and large corporations addressing disease surveillance, aftercare, transportation needs and more. AWS is looking for candidates developing cloud-hosted technologies to increase access to healthcare services, use data to advance equitable and inclusive healthcare systems, advance equity in diagnostics and screening, and reduce disparities by addressing social determinants of health to take.
In addition to the additional funding, AWS plans to focus on addressing the health impacts of climate change initiative will now prioritize applicants and projects that specifically:
- Increase access to high-quality, culturally responsive health care services.
- Promote resilient communities by increasing access to responsive social and community supports.
- Mitigating the impact of climate change on health and quality of life.
Applications for the next round of funding, which offers a per-application cap of $250,000 in AWS promotional credit requiring a 25% match, is due March 31.
Andrea Fox is editor-in-chief of Healthcare IT News.
Email: afox@himss.org
Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS Media publication.