A NTT DATA study highlights significant challenges facing healthcare organisations in aligning their Generative AI (GenAI) ambitions with business strategies.
Despite over 80% of leaders claiming to have a well-defined GenAI strategy, only 40% report that their strategy strongly aligns with overall business goals. Furthermore, merely 54% classify their GenAI capabilities as high-performing.
The report, titled GenAI: The Care Plan for Powering Positive Health Outcomes, is based on responses from 425 decision-makers across 33 countries. It reveals that while GenAI is transforming healthcare by enhancing patient and provider experiences, as well as improving financial outcomes, obstacles remain in areas such as data security, privacy, ethics, and regulatory compliance.
Key findings indicate that 94% of respondents believe GenAI accelerates research and development, enabling quicker access to new treatments and improved diagnostics.
Additionally, 95% view cloud-based solutions as the most practical and cost-effective option for their GenAI technology needs. However, 75% acknowledge a significant skills gap that hampers effective use of GenAI, with 93% actively addressing its impact on employee roles.
“To fully realise GenAI’s potential, organisations must align the technology with their business strategies,” stated Sundar Srinivasan, head of healthcare at NTT DATA North America.
He emphasised the need for comprehensive workforce training and multilayered governance strategies.-centric GenAI solutions are designed to enhance efficiency for clinicians and administrative staff while prioritising patient safety.
For example, GenAI can predict chronic diseases to facilitate early intervention and streamline prior authorisation inquiries. NTT DATA’s collaboration with Duke Health aims to develop an advanced model for home care that enhances outcomes while reducing clinician workloads.
Despite the promise of GenAI, 91% of healthcare executives express concerns about privacy violations and the potential misuse of Protected Health Information (PHI).
Only 42% strongly believe that their existing cybersecurity measures adequately protect current GenAI applications. Nevertheless, 87% agree that the benefits of GenAI outweigh the associated risks, with 59% planning significant investments in GenAI over the next two years.
