India leads global adoption of AI in healthcare: Report

Mumbai: India has emerged as the global frontrunner in adopting artificial intelligence for personal healthcare, with an impressive 85 per cent of consumers already using AI-powered tools—far ahead of major developed nations, according to a new report.

The study by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), titled “Consumers Are Ready for AI-Enabled Health Care. Health Systems Need to Be, Too,” highlights how Indian users are embracing generative AI at a pace unmatched worldwide.

Based on a survey of over 13,000 consumers across 15 countries, the report found that India’s adoption rate significantly exceeds that of the United States (50 per cent), the United Kingdom (43 per cent), and Japan (34 per cent). Globally, about 60 per cent of respondents said they use AI for health-related purposes, but India clearly stands out.

The findings indicate a shift in how people approach healthcare, with most consumers favouring a hybrid model—where doctors are supported by AI rather than replaced by it. This approach is particularly preferred for tasks like interpreting medical reports and managing chronic conditions.

Younger users are driving this trend. Around 78 per cent of Gen Z respondents and 71 per cent of Millennials reported using AI tools for health-related needs, reflecting strong digital adoption among these groups.

At present, AI usage in healthcare is largely centred around chatbots and wearable devices. However, expectations are evolving rapidly. Consumers are increasingly looking toward more advanced “agentic AI” systems that can independently handle tasks such as booking appointments, managing referrals, and flagging potential drug interactions.

The report suggests that while consumer readiness is high, healthcare systems now need to scale up their capabilities to match this growing demand for AI-enabled services.

With inputs from IANS