The STADA Health Report, which was published recently, reveals that when it comes to important decisions, most Europeans still prefer to see their healthcare professional in person, rather than rely on AI. However, 55 per cent of Europeans are already using AI in relation to their health; the majority would consider an AI consultation, and almost one-in-two already trust, or would be willing to trust, an AI diagnosis.
The Report also reinforces the concept of pharmacies as health hubs: “Pharmacies are one of the most accessible, most trusted points of contact most Europeans have with their healthcare system,” said the authors. “In a world where 62 per cent would already trust a digital-only pharmacy partly or fully, the question is not whether pharmacies will change — they will, because they must — but how they evolve into hybrid hubs that combine human expertise with the speed and reach of digital tools.”
The Report correlates data from 20 European countries and participants answered 40 questions relating to topics such as health empowerment, care preferences in the age of AI, the relevance of personal interaction with healthcare professionals, whom they trust most in health questions, satisfaction with and challenges of national healthcare systems, ageing and longevity, and more.
Twenty-nine per cent said they had no trust in online-only pharmacies, while 23 per cent said they would only trust an online pharmacy if it was connected to a local licensed pharmacy. Half (50 per cent) said they are open to AI managing their appointments and follow-ups. More than one-in-three would agree to AI monitoring chronic conditions (36 per cent) and taking notes during doctor visits (36 per cent). Approximately three-in-10 would accept AI generating discharge summaries (31 per cent) or assisting during consultations (30 per cent), while almost one-in-five remain firmly opposed to AI, saying they would not be open to any use of AI in their care.
Fifty-three per cent of Irish respondents said they would never trust an AI diagnosis as much as a doctor’s diagnosis, which
is among the highest rates of distrust for AI, with Austria (50 per cent) and Belgium (60 per cent) also topping the table. Europeans expect AI to thrive in data-intensive tasks, such as monitoring chronic conditions in real time (36 per cent), managing medication schedules (36 per cent), and detecting rare diseases (34 per cent).
Ireland also stood out among populations who hope AI will make healthcare cheaper, with 41 per cent of respondents expressing this hope. “The single most wanted innovation is the authority for pharmacies to issue repeat prescriptions for chronic conditions (39 per cent) — strongest in Ireland (51 per cent), Poland (49 per cent), Portugal and France (48 per cent), and a clear response to the inefficiency of needing a GP visit for routine renewals,” wrote the authors.
The full report can be accessed at: https://07.cdn.stada.com/media/y5rfptro/ stada_health_report_2026_ai_is_ transforming_healthcare.pdf.
