Nearly half of healthcare institutions worldwide use generative AI. However, privacy, data security, and governance remain significant obstacles to broader implementation.
An international study by SAS and Coleman Parkes Research shows that 46 percent of healthcare institutions are already using generative AI (GenAI). In other sectors, that average is 54 percent. Moreover, 95 percent of healthcare organizations indicate they have integrated or plan to integrate GenAI soon. Almost all respondents (92%) have already allocated budget for this.
Use of GenAI grows, but challenges remain
Applications of GenAI in healthcare include automatic reporting, research support, and creating personalized treatment plans. Healthcare institutions see particular benefits in more efficient data analysis (89%) and better risk management (88%).
At the same time, significant challenges remain. Specific to healthcare are concerns about strict regulations, interoperability, and bias in AI models. The sector expects an acceleration in the adoption of GenAI once these bottlenecks are better addressed.
Privacy and governance under pressure
Although enthusiasm is growing, many healthcare institutions express concerns about data security. 77 percent of decision-makers in healthcare are worried about this. Governance forms a second hurdle: only 9 percent believe their AI governance is well-regulated. However, many organizations do not view governance as a brake, but as a necessary condition for successfully implementing GenAI.
The development of AI applications often takes precedence over setting up governance or model management today. This creates risks, especially now that many models come from diverse sources. Without clear guidelines, there is a risk of losing oversight.
According to the research, synthetic data offers opportunities to address challenges such as data quality and privacy. 46 percent of healthcare institutions are already using or considering synthetic data. This data also helps in simulating healthcare processes and supply chains.
According to the researchers, it is essential that healthcare institutions invest in governance and interoperability. Only in this way can they fully utilize the potential of AI and maintain the trust of employees and patients.