A recent report by health technology company Philips indicates that artificial intelligence is playing an increasingly measurable role across the Indian healthcare ecosystem. The findings are part of the global Future Health Index 2026 report, which surveyed over 2,000 healthcare professionals and 20,000 patients across 10 countries, including a specific sample of 200 healthcare professionals and 2,004 patients in India.
According to the India findings, 85 percent of surveyed healthcare professionals express optimism that AI can improve patient outcomes, marking an increase from 76 percent in the previous year's report. Among clinicians who reported capacity gains, 71 percent stated that AI has enabled them to see a median of 10 additional patients per week.
The data further points to operational efficiencies. Fifty-eight percent of healthcare professionals in India reported average annual time savings of at least 132 hours, equivalent to more than three full working weeks. Additionally, 75 percent of respondents indicated that these time efficiencies are leading to more thorough interactions with patients.
Bharath Sesha, Managing Director of the Philips Indian Subcontinent, commented on the findings, stating that India is progressing toward an AI-enabled healthcare future. He noted that 68 percent of patients surveyed feel generative AI has helped them make the most of their time with doctors, reflecting a shared adoption of the technology between clinicians and patients.
As AI tools become more deeply integrated into clinical environments, healthcare professionals surveyed in the report emphasized the need for stronger AI training, technical support, and governance to ensure confident and responsible adoption moving forward.
"The findings from the Future Health Index 2026 report demonstrate how technology can directly address operational bottlenecks in resource-constrained sectors like healthcare. When tools like artificial intelligence measurably save time and expand clinical capacity, it creates a strong commercial case for broader enterprise adoption. However, as the report notes, long-term success will rely heavily on robust training, governance, and maintaining trust among both practitioners and patients as the market scales." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes
