Building Trust in Healthcare AI: India's Path from Potential to Practice
Recent discussions among healthcare leaders and policymakers have spotlighted how AI is no longer just a futuristic concept but a present-day ally for clinicians navigating complex healthcare realities.
The recently unveiled Future Health Index (FHI) 2025 India report was marked by an engaging discussion with some of India's leading healthcare experts and advocates. The event underscored how India is now poised to transition from viewing AI as a tool of potential to embracing it as a practical solution in real world healthcare settings.
With a special address by H.E. Ms. Marisa Gerards, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to India, Nepal, and Bhutan, the event featured a thought-provoking panel discussion with leading healthcare experts including Mr. Neeraj Jain, Director - Growth Operations, Asia, Middle East and Europe (AMEE), PATH; Dr. Ratna Devi, Board Member at IAPO and CEO of DakshamA Health and Mr. Bharath Sesha, Managing Director, Philips Indian Subcontinent. The session was moderated by Ms. Prathiba Raju, Senior Assistant Editor at ETHealthWorld, The Economic Times Group.
According to the India-specific findings in the FHI report, 76% of healthcare professionals believe AI will help improve patient outcomes, while over 80% feel AI can save lives by enabling timely care. These figures point to a growing confidence among India's clinical community in the technology's ability to enhance not replace human decision-making.
'India stands at a pivotal moment in its healthcare transformation,' said Bharath Sesha, Managing Director, Philips Indian Subcontinent. '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.
The
Future Health Index 2025
findings reaffirm what we've long believed: when applied with purpose, technology can bridge the gap between capability and capacity.
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. By bringing together clinicians, technologists, policymakers, and patients, we can co-create solutions that are clinically relevant, ethically sound, and scalable across India's diverse healthcare ecosystem.'
Global best practices suggest that collaboration is key. The development and deployment of
AI in healthcare
must involve a broad set of stakeholders. This inclusive approach is especially vital in countries like India, where the scale and diversity of the health system present both opportunities and risks.
'
Healthcare innovation
must be people-centric and globally responsible,' said H.E. Ms. Marisa Gerards, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to India, Nepal and Bhutan. 'During the launch of the 10th edition of Future Health Index 2025 report commissioned by Philips, we had a meaningful discussion with the Indian stakeholders thinking not just about what technology can do, but how it can be applied ethically, equitably, and effectively.'
The findings from the report also reveal a broadening acceptance of AI in everyday practice. 72 per cent of professionals say it supports accurate, real-time clinical decision-making, while 75 per cent believe it is particularly valuable for training junior staff and expanding access in underserved areas.
'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,' noted Mr. Neeraj Jain, Director - Growth Operations, Asia, Middle East and Europe (AMEE), PATH. 'But for it to work, our entire ecosystem must be prepared to adopt it responsibly. That means accelerating adoption while ensuring AI tools are developed in close consultation with clinicians, so they are fit for purpose and trusted at the point of care.'
While trust in AI is growing, it remains conditional. 67 per cent of healthcare professionals voiced concern over data bias, highlighting the risk of inequities if AI systems are not trained on representative datasets. Questions around legal liability (44%) and defined guardrails for clinical use (45%) also persist.
'
Building trust in AI
is critical,' said Dr. Ratna Devi, Board Member at IAPO and CEO of DakshamA Health. '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. It can enhance care delivery, improve efficiency, and help drive change, but it must always complement the human touch.'
The FHI 2025 findings also highlight the importance of sustained investment in education and digital capacity-building. Empowering healthcare workers to understand and trust AI, will be essential to mainstream adoption and to ensuring long-term success.
As AI moves further into the clinical mainstream, India finds itself at a pivotal moment. With rising readiness among professionals, deepening digital infrastructure, and increasing cross-sectoral momentum - the time to build trust and act is now.
Download the full FHI 2025 India Report here
Disclaimer - The above content is non-editorial, and ET Healthworld hereby disclaims any and all warranties, expressed or implied, relating to it, and does not guarantee, vouch for or necessarily endorse any of the content.
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