Half country “would consider AI over consulting a doctor” – study

More than half of Portuguese adults would consider using artificial intelligence instead of consulting a doctor, according to a new international health survey that concludes the finding ‘highlights growing confidence in AI-powered healthcare while revealing persistent concerns over accuracy and privacy’.

The STADA Health Report 2026 found that 51% of respondents in Portugal would consider turning to AI rather than visiting a physician – below the average of 58% recorded across the 20 countries surveyed.

Portugal ranked 15th in the study, led by Kazakhstan with 74% of respondents open to the idea, while Uzbekistan recorded the lowest level at 45%.

The survey, conducted between February and March 2026 among around 20,000 people, found that acceptance of AI in healthcare is strongest among men, younger adults and people who already self-medicate – suggesting that those more accustomed to managing their own health are also more willing to embrace digital tools.

Among Portuguese respondents, 30% said they already use AI to help understand medical diagnoses, while 22% use it for disease prevention, 13% to prepare for medical appointments, 11% for a second opinion and 6% for mental health support.

Nearly half (49%) said they do not use AI for health-related purposes.

The report also found that 41% of Portuguese would be willing to store their complete medical history and health data in an AI system if doing so improved diagnosis, prevention and/ or treatment, broadly in line with the international average of 43%.

Despite growing interest, concerns remain significant. Sixty-one percent of Portuguese respondents said they feared AI could produce errors or incorrect diagnoses – well above the international average of 54%. Almost half (46%) worried about misuse of personal health data, compared with an average of 41%, while 43% feared increased reliance on AI could reduce human interaction in healthcare, again above the average of 38%.

Even so, respondents recognised clear potential benefits. More than half (51%) believe AI could speed up diagnoses, compared with an international average of 43%.

Another 38% said the technology could improve access to healthcare, particularly in rural or underserved areas, while 35% believe AI could help doctors keep pace with the latest scientific and medical developments.

The findings mirror a broader trend identified across the survey, with respondents in Eastern European countries generally more receptive to AI-assisted healthcare than those in Western Europe.

According to the report’s authors, AI is already becoming part of how Europeans manage their health. Across all countries surveyed, 82% said they were open to the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare, while 55% already use AI tools for health-related questions.

However, trust continues to rest primarily with healthcare professionals. Seventy-seven percent of Europeans still rely on family doctors or other medical professionals when making health decisions, and around four in five said they prefer face-to-face consultations.

The report concludes that Europeans do not expect AI to replace healthcare professionals, but rather to strengthen and complement their role.

It also found that 78% of Europeans believe they have the knowledge and resources needed to manage their own health, while 94% self-medicate for at least some conditions. Meanwhile, 85% use one or more health-monitoring tools, ranging from fitness trackers to home diagnostic devices.

Asked what they would prioritise as health ministers, 58% of Europeans said they would invest in recruiting more healthcare professionals to reduce waiting times, while 49% would prioritise improving access to primary healthcare.

The independent online survey was conducted by international market research institute Human8 on behalf of the international pharmaceutical group STADA, covering respondents in 20 countries across Europe and Central Asia.

And back to Portugal – one of Europe’s oldest countries (demographically speaking), where the over-65s make up more than 24% of the population, the study’s result suggests that reluctance to rely on AI extends well beyond older generations. Even if every over-65 respondent rejected AI—a stronger assumption than the survey supports—around another quarter of the population under-65 also has reservations.”