TLDR: A recent Future Health Index (FHI) 2025 India report reveals a significant embrace of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by Indian healthcare professionals, with a majority believing it improves patient outcomes and saves lives. However, the report also highlights critical institutional gaps, including concerns over data bias, legal liability, and the need for robust ethical guardrails, which could impede the widespread and responsible adoption of AI in India’s diverse healthcare ecosystem.
India’s healthcare sector is at a pivotal juncture, grappling with escalating patient volumes, persistent workforce shortages, and systemic capacity constraints. In response, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly emerging as a powerful and practical tool to bridge these critical gaps, according to the recently unveiled Future Health Index (FHI) 2025 India report. The report underscores a growing confidence among Indian clinicians in AI’s transformative potential, moving beyond its perception as a futuristic concept to a present-day ally in navigating complex healthcare realities.
The FHI 2025 India report, commissioned by Philips, was launched during an engaging discussion featuring leading healthcare experts and advocates. The event highlighted India’s readiness to transition from viewing AI as a tool of potential to embracing it as a practical solution in real-world healthcare settings. Key findings from the India-specific report indicate that 76% of healthcare professionals believe AI will significantly improve patient outcomes, while over 80% feel AI can save lives by enabling timely care. These figures demonstrate a strong belief within India’s clinical community in AI’s ability to enhance, rather than replace, human decision-making.
Bharath Sesha, Managing Director, Philips Indian Subcontinent, commented on this shift, stating, “India stands at a pivotal moment in its healthcare transformation. There is growing confidence in AI, not just as a tool for efficiency, but as a catalyst for improved outcomes, broader access, and more empowered healthcare professionals.” He emphasized that the FHI 2025 findings reaffirm that purposeful technology can bridge the gap between capability and capacity, stressing that “Trust in both the technology and the intent behind it is essential to scaling AI in a meaningful way. Cross-sector collaboration is equally critical.”
The report also revealed a broadening acceptance of AI in daily clinical practice, with 72% of professionals noting its support for accurate, real-time clinical decision-making. Furthermore, 75% believe AI is particularly valuable for training junior staff and expanding access to care in underserved areas. Mr. Neeraj Jain, Director – Growth Operations, Asia, Middle East and Europe (AMEE), PATH, asserted, “AI is no longer a choice it’s the only viable path to delivering care at scale for a nation of 1.5 billion people.” He added that for AI to be effective, the entire ecosystem must be prepared for responsible adoption, ensuring tools are developed in close consultation with clinicians to be fit for purpose and trusted at the point of care.
Despite the enthusiasm, trust in AI remains conditional. A significant 67% of healthcare professionals expressed concern over data bias, highlighting the potential for inequities if AI systems are not trained on representative datasets. Questions surrounding legal liability (44%) and the need for defined guardrails for clinical use (45%) also persist. Dr. Ratna Devi, Board Member at IAPO and CEO of DakshamA Health, underscored the importance of building trust, stating, “People need clarity on how these tools work and assurance that they are safe and reliable. The doctor–patient ratio in India is unlikely to change dramatically, so AI must be seen as a tool to augment, not replace doctors.”
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H.E. Ms. Marisa Gerards, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to India, Nepal, and Bhutan, highlighted the global perspective, noting, “Healthcare innovation must be people-centric and globally responsible.” She emphasized the importance of discussing not just what technology can do, but how it can be applied ethically, equitably, and effectively. The FHI 2025 findings also stress the critical need for sustained investment in education and digital capacity-building to empower healthcare workers to understand and trust AI, which is essential for mainstream adoption and long-term success. As AI integrates further into clinical practice, India stands at a crucial juncture, with rising professional readiness, deepening digital infrastructure, and increasing cross-sectoral momentum, making it imperative to build trust and act decisively now.
