Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly becoming embedded in the provision of healthcare. Against this backdrop, 49% of healthcare industry professionals with prior AI experience showed strong endorsement for its use in clinical practice and administrative tasks, according to a survey* by GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

GlobalData’s latest Thematic Intelligence report, “AI in Clinical Practice – Physician Perspective 2023,” reveals that among different activities, diagnostics support and treatment decisions support are the two most popular cases with the use of AI tools.

Elton Kwok, Market Research Manager in Pharma at GlobalData, comments: “Some practices such as oncology have already been using AI to assist their clinical works like risk prediction and disease diagnosis. Of course, while AI can help with diagnosis, treatment decisions and eventually provide more effective patient care, scientific validation is needed to verify results.”

According to the report, which offers insights into the current utilization and prospects of AI in the eight major pharmaceutical markets (the US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, Japan, and China (8MM)), a notable finding is that the majority of physicians expressed great comfort in using AI for automating administrative tasks.

Kwok explains: “This sentiment underscores the growing acceptance of AI as a valuable tool in streamlining healthcare operations and suggests a shift towards leveraging its potential for optimizing administrative efficiencies in medical practices across these countries.”

Across the 8MM, China has emerged as a prominent player in the global healthcare landscape in embracing AI, reflecting its commitment to advancing healthcare accessibility and quality, and positioning the country as a key player in the ongoing digital revolution within the healthcare industry.

Kwok concludes: “AI’s utilization in drug development, encompassing target identification and drug repurposing, has yielded promising outcomes, fostering increased confidence in AI tools. With AI’s rapid evolution and the growing need to enhance healthcare delivery, GlobalData foresees a gradual shift towards more extensive AI adoption in clinical practices.”

*426 healthcare industry professionals were surveyed between March 2023 – June 2023.