From Telemedicine to AI: What’s Next for Digitalized Healthcare in China?

Authored by: Paul Reed and Peggy Yau

At a Beijing hospital, Mrs. Liu, a 62-year-old retiree, consults a doctor – not a human, but a virtual physician powered by artificial intelligence. Within minutes, her symptoms are analyzed, a diagnosis is suggested, and a treatment plan is outlined. No, we’re not talking about the latest science fiction streaming series – it’s the new face of healthcare in China.

In a previous article “Changing Patient Behavior: How China’s Digital Platforms Are Revolutionizing Healthcare,” we explored how telemedicine and platforms like WeChat are enhancing healthcare access in China.  This time, we shift focus from front-end digital services to the next wave of innovation – artificial intelligence (AI) in improving patient experience and health outcomes. With China’s healthcare AI sector projected to grow over 40% annually through 2030 and reach a revenue of 18.9 billion in 2030, AI is not just enhancing care in China – it’s redefining it.¹

A Nation Embracing AI-Driven Care 

It could be said that China’s readiness for AI in healthcare is likely unmatched. With over 1.1 billion mobile users generating real-time health data, the country offers fertile ground for AI to learn, adapt, and scale. The world’s first AI hospital, recently opened in Beijing, features 14 virtual doctors capable of treating thousands of patients daily. These digital physicians handle diagnostics, treatment planning, and post-care monitoring- offering a glimpse into a future where healthcare is always-on, accessible, and efficient.²

Urban patients are already embracing this shift: 72% now prefer AI-triaged telemedicine. It’s easy to see why – Ping An Health’s AI system, for instance, boasts a 99% accuracy rate in routing patients to the right care.³ Meanwhile, clinicians are reporting tangible benefits – 93% of doctors in pilot hospitals say AI tools have improved their diagnostic confidence. In intensive care units, Tencent’s AI alert system has reduced false alarms by 68%, freeing up staff to focus on critical cases.⁴

AI is Transforming the Patient Journey 

From early detection to mental health support, AI is enhancing every step of the patient journey. In oncology, tools like Infervision’s InferRead CT Lung are helping detect early-stage lung cancer with remarkable precision.⁵ Tencent’s imaging AI achieves 97% accuracy in tumor screening, while Alibaba’s PANDA tool identifies early-stage pancreatic cancer with 93.3% sensitivity.⁶

These tools aren’t just about speed – they’re about saving lives. In some hospitals, AI has helped reduce medical errors by 25%.⁷ And in mental health, AI is breaking down barriers. Chatbots like XiaoE offer immediate, stigma-free support for anxiety, depression, and loneliness. These digital therapists provide screening, guidance, and emotional support, though their rise does also raise important questions about safety, empathy, and trust.⁸

AI Helps With Listening to Patients – at Scale 

AI is also enabling hospitals to listen more closely to their patients. At Hangzhou Cancer Hospital, researchers used natural language processing (NLP) to analyze over 1,400 patient complaints. By categorizing feedback into themes like communication, diagnosis, and treatment, hospitals can now identify care gaps and improve satisfaction, even in high-volume settings with limited staff.⁹

An AI-driven, Digital Future Requires Human Understanding

By 2030, AI is expected to automate most routine diagnostics and streamline half of all hospital administrative tasks. Initiatives like AI Hospital Town are already using virtual simulations for training to reduce treatment timelines and improve care coordination.

As clinicians adapt to AI-driven workflows, their relationships with patients, pharmaceutical companies, and data are evolving. Understanding these shifts requires new research methods, from updated segmentation models to robust ethnographic research.

Patients, too, are changing. Digitally fluent and data-savvy, they expect personalized, responsive care. Meeting these expectations means capturing their behaviors and preferences in real time – and using AI to turn that data into action.

China’s healthcare transformation is marked by AI’s remarkable precision, scalability, and its potential to support holistic well-being, encompassing both physical and mental health. As AI tools like ChatGPT become integral to everyday life, it is crucial for all stakeholders to proactively address critical issues surrounding ethics, safety, and trust.

Balancing Technology with Compassion

 Moving forward, we must leverage the strengths of AI while ensuring that the compassion and judgment defining humanized healthcare remain central. For patients, clinicians, and the healthcare industry as a whole, the future is not just about advancing technology; it is about fostering a healthcare environment that is both digital and fundamentally human.

Learn more by exploring our MedTech and Innovative Methods pages.

References 

1. Horizon Digital Economy Research. (2025). China Ai In Healthcare Market Size & Outlook, 2023-2030 (https://www.grandviewresearch.com/horizon/outlook/ai-in-healthcare-market/china
2. Robotics & Automation Magazine. (2024, April 15). World’s first AI hospital with virtual doctors opens in China. https://www.roboticsandautomationmagazine.co.uk/news/healthcare/worlds-first-ai-hospital-with-virtual-doctors-opens-in-china.html
3. (2023, October 12). Ping An Health revolutionizes medical services with AI doctor assistant Ping Xin Yi. https://www.ainvest.com/news/ping-health-revolutionizes-medical-services-ai-doctor-assistant-ping-xin-yi-2502/
4. He, J., Hu, W., & Wang, X. (2022). Artificial intelligence in mental health care: Progress, challenges, and opportunities. Exploratory Research and Hypothesis in Medicine, 7(1), 17–24. https://xiahepublishing.com/2472-0712/ERHM-2022-00026
5. (n.d.). AI solutions for early cancer detection. https://www.infervision.com/
6. Zhang, H., Liu, Y., Chen, X., & Wang, M. (2025). Artificial intelligence in critical care: A retrospective analysis of alert optimization in Chinese ICUs. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 27, e55721. https://www.jmir.org/2025/1/e55721
7. Alibaba Cloud. (2024, April 10). Alibaba’s AI-powered cancer detection tool recognized on Fortune’s 2024 Change the World list. https://www.alibabacloud.com/blog/alibabas-ai-powered-cancer-detection-tool-recognized-on-fortunes-2024-change-the-world-list_601638
8. Zhang, Y. (2024). The role of NLP in hospital feedback analysis: A case study from Hangzhou Cancer Hospital. Asia-Pacific Clinical and Academic Medical Journal, 5(2), 35–42. https://www.journal.yemdd.org/index.php/acamj/article/download/150/135/610
9. Davidson, H. (2025, May 22). ‘It listens’: AI therapy chatbots expand in China and Taiwan. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/22/ai-therapy-therapist-chatbot-taiwan-china-mental-health