Philips Future Health Index 2025: AI Needs Trust and Transparency

AI Requires Trust and Transparency

The German results of the world's largest health survey show a significant trust gap and healthcare professionals are demanding clear answers on liability issues.

Hamburg – The German healthcare system is at a turning point: While Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to solve the system's most pressing problems, public trust lags behind technological development. Healthcare professionals, on the other hand, are more open and already use AI. However, many lack clarity regarding liability and evidence. This is shown by the German edition of the Future Health Index 2025, which Philips has published for the tenth time. This year, Philips is examining the role of AI in healthcare and what levers are necessary to harness the full potential of this technology.

Time Loss and Inefficiencies

The Future Health Index 2025 reveals significant inefficiencies in the German healthcare system: 82 percent of medical professionals lose valuable working time daily due to incomplete or inaccessible patient data. For 37 percent, this amounts to more than 45 minutes per shift. This corresponds to a loss of up to 23 full working days per year per professional [1] – time that is missing for patients.

Almost half of healthcare professionals now spend more time on administrative tasks than with their patients. Only 15 percent report spending more time with the people they care for now than five years ago. Looking at the general population, 83 percent of those who had to wait for a specialist appointment report the longest waiting times, up to 93 days. For 22 percent, their health problem worsened during the waiting period for a doctor's appointment.

"We could be better in an international comparison if we consistently used the technologies available to us, especially AI," says Mikko Vasama, Managing Director Health Systems DACH at Philips. "The time that professionals would gain through better data availability and data utilization could be used for better care of the increasing number of patients."

Healthcare Professionals Recognize AI's Potential

Germany's healthcare professionals also see AI as a key solution to existing challenges: 80 percent are optimistic that this technology can improve patient outcomes. They expect AI to help save valuable time, expand capacity, and enable more patients to receive the right therapy faster.

Critical Trust Gap Jeopardizes Transformation

Optimism towards AI is significantly lower among patients. The study shows a large trust gap compared to healthcare professionals: Instead of 80 percent, only 48 percent of patients are optimistic that AI can improve healthcare. While 67 percent would support increased technology use if it improved care for patients like them, many remain skeptical of concrete AI applications.

Medical professionals also have concerns: 76 percent are worried or uncertain about legal liability in case of AI errors. Only 44 percent currently understand where and how AI is used in their departments. 43 percent worry that data bias in AI applications could exacerbate health inequalities.

Technology Must Become More User-Friendly

Another obstacle to AI adoption is poorly integrated systems: 59 percent of healthcare professionals complain that digital applications require too many clicks and are perceived as cumbersome. Although 50 percent are actively involved in developing new technologies in their organization, only 30 percent are convinced that these are adapted to their needs.

"AI algorithms must integrate seamlessly into existing workflows," emphasizes Marcus Bataryk, Head of Healthcare Informatics DACH at Philips. "Only if the technology facilitates the work of professionals, rather than making it more difficult, can its full potential be realized."

Five Factors for More Trust in AI Integration

The results of the Future Health Index 2025 highlight the following key factors that are crucial for the further integration of AI in healthcare:

• Human-centered development, ensuring AI is aligned with the needs of patients and professionals.
• Human-AI collaboration, to ensure human oversight and strengthen patient trust in AI.
• Development and validation of AI based on high-quality datasets to minimize potential biases and ensure effective use across a broad patient population.
• Room for innovation within a unified legal framework at the EU and national levels, ensuring patient safety and enabling faster access to innovation.
• Cross-sectoral partner networks that promote close collaboration among all stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem.

Further Information

The full report for Germany, as well as the global analysis and further reports from countries such as the USA, Spain, or the Netherlands, can be downloaded at the following link: www.philips.de/futurehealthindex-2025

Information for Journalists

Anke Ellingen
Corporate Communications
Tel.: +49 (0) 1522 281 46 45
E-Mail: anke.ellingen@philips.com

About Royal Philips

Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a leading provider of health technology. The company uses advanced technologies and deep clinical insights to offer personalized health solutions to people. These innovations are guided by the needs of healthcare providers and their patients in hospitals and at home. Philips, headquartered in the Netherlands, is a leader in diagnostic imaging, ultrasound, image-guided therapy, monitoring, and health informatics, as well as in Personal Health. The company employs approximately 67,200 employees in more than 100 countries and generated revenues of 18 billion euros in 2024. More about Philips on the Internet: www.philips.de/healthcare.