Deploying AI to transform patient outcomes
Healthcare sector outlook: HLB Survey of Business Leaders 2025The latest outlook reveals a robust optimism for business growth, an intensified focus on cybersecurity, and rapid adoption of AI-driven innovations.
Leaders confident in business growth
Despite ongoing global economic uncertainties, healthcare leaders remain overwhelmingly optimistic. More than half (53%) anticipate global economic growth in 2025, the highest level of optimism recorded since the survey began.
This confidence of executives extends to their own businesses, with 89% expecting revenue growth—nearly half of whom describe themselves as 'very confident.' Healthcare leaders in Europe and countries like France and Ireland are among the most optimistic, but also in other parts of the world, including the Middle East, and South Africa. Factors contributing to this optimism include an ageing population, technological advancements, and a shift toward personalised care.
Technological advancements are a key driver of business confidence. AI-powered diagnostics, digital therapeutics, and real-time data analytics are revolutionising patient care, leading to better outcomes and streamlined operations. One North American healthcare leader observed, "The ability to analyse what we're doing quickly and efficiently is driving profitability and improving patient outcomes."
A triad of top risks: Cyber, economic uncertainty and rising resource costs
This optimism about technology is not without its caveats. Cybersecurity emerges as the sector's most pressing challenge. Of those leaders expressing concern, nearly a third (29%) are 'very concerned,' highlighting the vulnerability of healthcare systems to cyber threats.
With healthcare systems increasingly dependent on digital infrastructure, the sector has become a prime target for cybercriminals. Ransomware attacks have escalated in recent years, disrupting patient care and compromising highly sensitive data.
The financial and reputational damage of these attacks can be significant, forcing organisations to strengthen their defences. In response, 67% of healthcare leaders plan to increase or significantly increase investment in cybersecurity and IT infrastructure.
However, concerns of healthcare leaders extend beyond cyber threats. Economic uncertainty and resource costs also weigh heavily on decision-makers, followed by regulatory changes. Many leaders fear that evolving compliance requirements could slow down innovation and increase administrative burdens.
Economic uncertainty is a shared concern among healthcare leaders worldwide, with 76% citing it as a significant risk. Fluctuations in inflation, exchange rates, and global supply chain disruptions continue to impact financial planning and investment decisions.
Resource costs are another critical issue. Almost two-thirds (74%) of healthcare leaders worry about the sustained high energy and raw material costs, which directly affect operational expenses. Cost inflation is not just about energy prices—it extends to pharmaceutical supplies, medical equipment, and staffing costs, all contributing to financial strain.
Regulatory changes are also 68% of healthcare leaders, including more than a quarter who are 'very concerned' about healthcare reforms, including shifting policies and compliance demands from governments worldwide.
Driving operational efficiency
As healthcare businesses seek to future-proof their operations, they increasingly prioritise operational efficiency in 2025. The majority of surveyed business leaders (62%) cite it as their top priority this year. Nearly half (47%) identify operational effectiveness as a persistent weakness, and supply chain inefficiencies continue to hinder growth.
While only 20% of healthcare leaders believe they have an optimal operating model, 80% are actively working to enhance their business structures. Strategies include:
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Improving organisational structures (48%)
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Streamlining processes to eliminate redundancies (44%)
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Upgrading technology systems (38%)
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Enhancing data analytics capabilities (35%)
AI is a key enabler of these efficiency improvements. healthcare leaders looking to enhance data analytics capabilities, 83% are using AI to help them to optimise their decision-making, while 76% of those planning to upgrade systems are leveraging AI in this respect.
Predictive analytics is particularly valuable in supply chain management, allowing businesses to forecast demand, reduce waste, and optimise procurement. "AI is having an impact on supply chain prediction, allowing us to streamline suppliers and optimise procurement," noted a publicly listed healthcare provider in North America.
Leveraging technology for better patient outcomes
Digital transformation is accelerating across the healthcare sector. The majority of surveyed healthcare executives (61%) plan to adopt new technologies in 2025—a dramatic rise from 17% in 2021. The focus is not only on improving operational efficiency and driving cost savings, but also on enhancing patient outcomes.
Key areas receiving an increase in investment in 2025 include:
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Data analytics and business intelligence (59%)
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Digital transformation and emerging tech (50%)
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Automation and digitisation of core processes (47%)
Other high-impact technologies to use alongside AI include cloud computing (44%), IoT (32%), robotics process automation (29%), and machine learning (27%).
These technologies are not just theoretical investments; they are delivering tangible benefits. From AI-assisted diagnostics to remote patient monitoring, digital innovations are reducing hospital stays, cutting costs, and enabling more personalised care.
AI remains the driving force of these key investment areas and efforts, with 62% of leaders identifying it as the most critical emerging technology.
"Predictive analytics and customer support automation often stand out for their direct impact on cost savings and revenue generation," a North American healthcare executive commented.
Leaders in the region also emphasise the advantages of "analysing our actions quickly and efficiently" and "leveraging historical clinical data for AI modelling."
Progressing on the AI adoption curve
As a result, the healthcare sector is advancing along the AI adoption curve, with businesses shifting from experimentation to more strategic implementation that increases efficiency, reduces costs, and improves patient outcomes.
Unlike their global peers, they are less focused on AI for content creation or marketing and more invested in embedding it into core operations.
The top five applications include process automation, research and development, customer service, customer analytics, and employee training. AI-driven automation in these areas has surged, with process automation alone rising 14 percentage points year-over-year.
A Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in North America believes that AI has had the most positive impact on research and development, significantly improving performance and business profitability, while a Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) credits AI's implementation in employee training and recruitment as a key driver of profitability in their organisation.
Managing cost inflation
Healthcare businesses are under mounting pressure to deliver better outcomes for more patients without additional resources, a challenge that is particularly pronounced in publicly funded environments. Cost management is the third-highest priority, with 58% of leaders planning to act on it in 2025. Over a third of respondents (38%) cite cost control as a business weakness, second only to operational efficiency.
To address these pressures, healthcare businesses are pursuing cost-saving measures such as outsourcing services, AI-driven automation to reduce administrative overhead, and optimising supply chains to mitigate resource costs
While some organisations are considering outsourcing—23% plan to do so in the next 12 months—hiring more staff is not realistic for most. Workforce expansion ranks lowest among investment priorities for 2025, forcing businesses to explore alternative solutions.
Instead, many healthcare leaders are turning to technology, particularly AI, to drive efficiency and reduce costs by streamlining administrative tasks, optimising workflows, and enhancing employee productivity. AI-powered tools help employees work more effectively, whether by providing smart personal assistants, structuring clinical notes, or transcribing data.
A COO based in Africa and the Middle East highlighted AI's financial impact, explaining how automation has significantly reduced operating costs by handling repetitive processes. One Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) noted that workflow automation has freed up frontline staff, allowing them to focus more on patient-facing work.
By integrating AI into core processes, healthcare organisations are finding ways to balance resource constraints while maintaining quality care—an approach that is becoming essential for long-term sustainability.
Trust HLB to guide you through
Driven by a powerful mix of business confidence , a drive for operational excellence, and the rapid rise of AI-driven innovations, the healthcare sector is changing rapidly.
With leaders embracing cutting-edge technologies and focusing on improving patient outcomes, the sector is primed for change. As the industry evolves, HLB provides expert guidance to help businesses not just adapt—but thrive. Dive into our healthcare sector insights and connect with us.
Survey of Business Leaders 2025
