Openness to AI in Healthcare on the Rise in Europe

While many Europeans see the benefits of AI in healthcare, concerns around the accuracy of information and data privacy still linger • STADA Health Report 2025 shows that citizens continue to trust healthcare professionals the most, even though the openness to AI is on the rise.

According to the STADA Health Report 2025, around 39% of Europeans are more likely to consult AI than a doctor. Among the younger generations (aged 18 to 45), this figure is even higher at 45%. Advocates for AI in healthcare emphasize constant availability, quick responses, and objective feedback. Some even feel safer sharing personal health data with a digital interface than with a human being.

The availability of AI systems 24/7 and providing an instant response is the main reason for 57% of Serbs, 56% of Hungarians, 55% of Czechs and 54% of Slovaks.

But there is also caution: more than half of Europeans (52%) are still indecisive. The main motives for avoiding consultations with AI are a lack of trust, accompanied by the need for personal interaction. Nevertheless, this skepticism may not last forever – as many as a quarter of citizens who doubt AI say they could change their mind if the AI becomes more reliable.

The main motives for avoiding consultations with artificial intelligence are a lack of trust, accompanied by the need for personal interaction. Lack of confidence in AI's ability to provide accurate medical advice is the main motivator for 61% of Irish, 60% of Swedes and Portuguese, 59% of Kazakhs, 58% of Danes, and 49% of Serbs.

Personal interaction in medical/psychological consultations is important for 54% of Swedes, 53% of French, 52% of Bulgarians, and 44% of Serbs. Concerns that their personal data would be stored or shared by AI systems were expressed by 25% of the Irish, 24% of the British, 22% of the French and Germans, and only 8% of Serbs.

Great trust in healthcare professionals

Great number of European citizens have the greatest trust in their family doctor/general practitioner, as well as in other healthcare professionals. When it comes to trust, humans are still the most trustworthy. General practitioners rank highest (69%), followed closely by healthcare professionals (61%) and pharmacists (58%). After that, the level of trust drops sharply: only 24% of citizens trust specialized health bulletins, 20% trust Google, and only 15% trust AI. However, this is still higher than the trust in mass media (12%) or health influencers on social media (11%). Politicians are at the very bottom, with only 8% of Europeans trusting them.

Trust in general practitioners is expressed by 81% of Danes, 80% of Belgians, 79% of Portuguese, 77% of Spaniards and Dutch each, but also 65% of Serbs. Great trust in other healthcare professionals is most visible among Spaniards (80%), Dutch and Czechs (74% each), while scientists are most trusted by citizens of Spain (73%) and Portugal (71%), as well as Serbia and Slovakia (59% each).

The Irish and Belgians (69% each) trust pharmacists, but so do the Dutch (68%), and to a lesser extent the Serbs (51%).

AI, i.e. artificial intelligence is most trusted by Uzbeks (30%) and Romanians (20%), and to a lesser extent by citizens of Serbia (15%).

This year's survey shows that citizens over the age of 55, but also those of good physical health, are significantly more likely to trust their family doctors. By contrast, the younger generations are more likely to trust health 'influencers‘ on social media, as well as AI. Despite the fact that AI arouses curiosity and slowly gains trust, when it comes to health, Europeans still put people first – especially those with a medical education.

Find out more about what Europeans think about AI in healthcare and many other insights in the STADA Health Report 2025.