Tokyo, July 23, 2025: A new report by NTT DATA has revealed a significant gap between healthcare organizations’ ambitions around Generative AI (GenAI) and the strategic alignment needed to unlock its full potential. The study, based on responses from 425 healthcare decision-makers across 33 countries, shows that while over 80% of respondents claim to have a well-defined GenAI strategy, only 40% believe that it is closely aligned with their overall business goals.
The report, titled GenAI: The Care Plan for Powering Positive Health Outcomes, explores how GenAI is reshaping healthcare delivery through enhanced diagnostics, predictive analytics, and task automation. However, the research identifies key barriers—including data privacy concerns, regulatory challenges, and skills gaps—that are hindering broader implementation and impact.
According to the study:
- 94% of respondents believe GenAI accelerates research and development, improving access to new treatments and diagnostics.
- 95% favor cloud-based solutions as the most cost-effective method for deploying GenAI technologies.
- 75% acknowledge lacking the necessary skills to work effectively with GenAI, although 93% are already preparing for the technology’s impact on workforce roles.
“To achieve GenAI’s full potential in healthcare, organizations must align the technology to their business strategies, develop comprehensive workforce training, and implement multilayered governance strategies that prioritize people and keep humans in the loop,” said Sundar Srinivasan, Head of Healthcare, NTT DATA North America. “It’s vital to transparently show how the technology benefits patients by complementing human workers.”
The report also highlights how GenAI is being integrated into care delivery. For example, NTT DATA is collaborating with Duke Health on an advanced interactive model for home care that uses GenAI to reduce workload and stress for clinicians and patients, while improving health outcomes.
Despite the progress, privacy and security remain major concerns. While 87% of respondents agree that the long-term benefits of GenAI outweigh its risks, 91% remain concerned about potential privacy violations. Only 42% strongly believe their current cybersecurity systems can adequately protect GenAI applications.
Legacy infrastructure poses another hurdle. While 91% report that outdated systems impede GenAI deployment, only 48% have fully assessed their platforms for GenAI readiness. Moreover, just 44% say they have made adequate investments in data storage and processing.
“In addition to clearly supporting operating objectives, AI systems also must be aligned with regulatory and clinical guidelines,” added Srinivasan. “Success hinges on high data quality and establishing collaborative decision-making teams.”
With 59% of respondents planning significant GenAI investments in the next two years, the report underscores the urgency for healthcare organizations to close the gap between GenAI potential and implementation.
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