AWS offers $55m health grants

Amazon Web Services wants to make telehealth and telemedicine available to remote and marginalised communities around the world through a $55m grants program.

The plan is part of its new Healthcare Equity program that aims to offer free credit and technical expertise to health providers so they can access AWS cloud services.

Health-based groups can apply online with an application deadline of November 15. The money is made available as credits and services.

AWS says eligible applicants could be customers from industries such as non-profit healthcare, academic medical centres, national governments, primary care, ambulatory care and elderly care.

It says the program will focus on providers to undeserved populations around the world. AWS says about half the world’s population does not have access to basic healthcare.

Director of Australia, New Zealand and Oceania, public sector for AWS Iain Rouse is encouraging Australian organisations to apply.

“We would like to see nonprofits, start-ups, research institutions, universities, public companies,” he said.