BusinessWire India
New Delhi [India], August 18: Philips a global leader in health technology, today announced the India findings of its Future Health Index 2026 report. The global research surveyed over 2,000 healthcare professionals and over 20,000 patients across 10 countries, including 200 healthcare professionals and 2,004 patients in India.
Artificial intelligence is delivering measurable benefits across the Indian healthcare ecosystem. More than 8 in 10 (85%) healthcare professionals in India are optimistic that AI can improve patient outcomes, up from 76% in the 2025 report. AI is also expanding clinical capacity: among those who reported an increase (71%), clinicians are seeing a median of 10 additional patients per week. This underlines the growing role of AI in supporting care delivery at a time when healthcare systems are working to serve more people with existing resources.
AI is also helping healthcare professionals use their time differently. 58% of healthcare professionals in India report average annual time savings of at least 132 hours, equivalent to more than three full working weeks. These efficiencies are beginning to support more meaningful care conversations, with 75% saying AI is leading to more thorough interactions with patients.
Commenting on the findings, Bharath Sesha, Managing Director, Philips Indian Subcontinent, said, "India is leapfrogging towards an AI-enabled future for healthcare, and the signs are already evident. The transformation is already underway, with 71% of healthcare professionals saying AI has increased their capacity to care for more patients. Patients are embracing this transformation too, with 68% saying generative AI has helped them make the most of their time with their doctor. This underscores how AI is enabling more informed and meaningful interactions between patients and clinicians, making care better, more accessible and equitable. It also reflects the growing confidence among both healthcare professionals and patients, signaling that the focus is now shifting from AI's potential to scaling its impact responsibly. India now has a unique opportunity to lead the responsible adoption of AI and redefine how quality care is delivered at scale."
As AI becomes more deeply integrated into healthcare, healthcare professionals highlighted the need for stronger AI training, technical support and governance to enable confident and responsible adoption.
Key findings from Future Health Index 2026 India report:
AI is Enhancing Clinical Outcomes and Expanding Care Capacity
- 71% of healthcare professionals say AI has increased their capacity to see more patients, compared with 50% globally
- 48% say AI has helped them identify or prevent a potential medical error at least three times in the past three months
- 85% of healthcare professionals believe AI can improve patient outcomes
AI is Improving Efficiency and Enabling More Meaningful Care
- 82% report improved workflow efficiency through AI
- 80% report improved access to consolidated patient data across care teams
- 75% of those saving time with AI say it is enabling more thorough interactions with patients
AI is Supporting Healthcare Professionals and Shaping the Workforce of the Future
- 71% say AI has improved their work-life balance
- 69% report reduced stress levels
- 69% say they are doing less overtime or bringing less work home
- 77% expect new roles to emerge as AI becomes increasingly integrated into healthcare delivery
AI Can Help Expand Access to Quality Care Across India
- 83% of healthcare professionals believe AI can help narrow quality gaps between different healthcare settings
Building Trust Through Responsible AI Adoption
- 86% say all AI outputs require human oversight
- 78% have had to correct AI-generated misinformation
- 45% of healthcare professionals say AI training at their organisations is limited or inconsistent
The Future Health Index 2026 highlights that AI is already transforming healthcare delivery today. By scaling AI responsibly and integrating it seamlessly into clinical practice, India has an opportunity to build a more resilient, equitable and patient centered healthcare system.
For more information, download the full FHI 2026 India Report here.
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