A new report from Howden has revealed that Asian employees now trust the use of AI in their healthcare journeys.
According to Asia Employee Health Infographic and Insights 2026 as part of the Changing Face of Global Employee Health report 2026 from Howden Employee Benefits, revealed that the majority (64%) of Asia employees now trust the use of AI in healthcare journeys.
The use of AI in the healthcare sector is growing – a trend set to rise rapidly as healthcare innovators are identifying new ways in which AI can help improve the effectiveness, efficiency and availability of care for patients. But it does not take innovation alone to drive adoption, and it is a very positive sign to see the growing level of employee trust in AI in healthcare, said the report.
More than a third (38%) of Asia employees have experienced some form of AI in their most recent healthcare journey. Specifically, 13% of employees experienced AI during the diagnosis journey, followed by 18% who said it was used as part of a treatment plan.
20% of respondents have also had AI involved in a remote health monitoring and telehealth capacity, while 15% administered their plan through AI capabilities. There is very little of the end-to-end healthcare journey which isn’t being touched by AI already.
This shows an increasing trust in AI; 21% of those engaging with AI during their journey said it worked well in their health care journey, and 18% believe it was quicker and more efficient.
All of this positive response to AI in healthcare is now prompting more employers to look at how AI is applied across their employee benefits programmes. Indeed, 45% of Asia businesses would like to see AI-powered care adopted more widely.
In terms of how Asia businesses view AI as delivering the most value, smart diagnosis and screening leads the way with 45% believing this will deliver value, followed by:
? 37% - Claims processing and approvals
? 33% - Virtual GP or triage service
? 37% - Predictive analysis for high-cost claims
? 27% - Fraud detection or prevention
? Only 3% are not considering using AI
In addition to the improvements in diagnoses and patient journeys, the use of AI may help mitigate the impact of Asia’s projected medical inflation rate of 11.4% (net of general inflation), with 51% of employers expecting significant increases in medical costs. Early detection is known to lead to lower treatment requirements, as just one example of cost impact.
Howden Employee Benefits Regional Practice Leader Asia Philip Samson said: “AI is already reshaping the employee healthcare experience across Asia, from faster diagnostics to more efficient claims and care pathways. What is most encouraging is that employees are not just experiencing AI – they are increasingly trusting it. That trust creates a real opportunity for employers to improve access to care, drive earlier intervention and better manage rising medical costs, provided these technologies are integrated responsibly and with the right safeguards in place.”
Howden Employee Benefits Regional Director Asia Christine Wee said: “As AI becomes more embedded across the healthcare journey, employers play a critical role in ensuring transparency, education and governance. Employees want clarity on how these tools fit into their care, how their data is used, and how decisions are made. When deployed thoughtfully and in partnership with trusted providers, AI can support better health outcomes while strengthening confidence in employee benefits programmes.”