The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has partnered with the Novo Nordisk Foundation, a Danish enterprise foundation focused on health, to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into IOM's radiology services for people on the move.
"Getting a timely diagnosis shouldn't depend on where you live or whether a radiologist is available," said Catalina Devandas, IOM's Senior Director of Partnerships. "This initiative brings innovation to where it's needed most. AI can help make health screenings quicker, more affordable, and more reliable, especially in places where health systems are stretched. Our goal is to make sure people on the move are not left waiting for care."
This partnership will enhance access to timely and accurate screenings for tuberculosis (TB) and select non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in health facilities managed by IOM and national authorities, with an initial focus on East Africa. The AI-assisted chest X-ray analysis will be implemented in collaboration with health-tech company Qure.ai.
In many remote areas with limited resources, a shortage of radiologists leaves people waiting for crucial diagnoses. Each screening comes at a high cost, stretching already limited humanitarian budgets. By using AI tools, IOM aims to speed up diagnosis, reduce costs, and improve accuracy, strengthening health services in areas facing significant healthcare gaps.
"The Novo Nordisk Foundation is committed to reducing inequity in health for people in vulnerable positions, leveraging innovative approaches and novel technologies to ensure better health outcomes for displaced people and people in humanitarian settings," said Flemming Konradsen, Chief Scientific Officer for the Health Area at the Novo Nordisk Foundation. "Through this collaboration with IOM, we aim to demonstrate the viability of AI in low-resource, humanitarian settings."
More than 250,000 migrants and refugees are expected to be screened through this project, with results reviewed and validated by IOM radiologists. The initiative will also focus on training health professionals and embedding AI tools into both national systems and local health facilities. These improvements will help build long-term diagnostic capacity, support broader public health systems, and contribute to global health security.
The project will initially roll out in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda, where IOM will work with national health authorities to support the interpretation of digital chest X-rays. If successful, the model could be scaled across IOM's broader health programming in countries with high TB prevalence and limited diagnostic capacity.
By combining IOM's expertise and operational reach with the Novo Nordisk Foundation's focus on reducing inequity in health, this partnership aims to improve health outcomes for people on the move and the communities that host them, while helping reshape how healthcare is delivered in fragile settings.
