7 in 10 consumers in India, Indonesia, and China trust digital health

Still, offline providers maintain a trust advantage of around 40% over digital players in Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

Trust in digital health and tech companies is growing among consumers in India, Indonesia, and China, with nearly 70% expressing confidence, as per Bain & Company's Asia-Pacific Front Line of Healthcare 2024 report.

The report also revealed that offline providers maintain a trust advantage of around 40% over digital players in Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

Consumers are increasingly looking to insurance providers to play a guiding role in their healthcare journey, with around 80% seeking recommendations from insurance partners for specialists, diagnosticians, or primary care providers. 

Additionally, the usage of insurance-backed digital apps is steadily increasing, with approximately 50% penetration for services like online appointment booking, self-diagnosis, and digital claim management, projected to reach 70% in the next two years.

A new trend is also emerging with the rise of "medicalized payers" or those health insurers focusing on managing patients' health and wellness by integrating services and reducing costs.

Moreover, new technologies disrupting traditional care delivery models are being integrated such as smart wearables and remote patient monitoring devices, potentially leading to future partnerships between tech companies and healthcare players to develop more effective, personalized care solutions.

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Consumer acceptance of AI in healthcare is growing, with over 50% feeling comfortable with AI-powered healthcare delivery for preventive and wellness care and less severe physical conditions.

For more severe or urgent physical conditions, 70% of consumers still prefer human healthcare providers.

“Asia-Pacific’s healthcare market is becoming more consumer-centric and collaborating seamlessly with technology,” said Vikram Kapur, head of Bain & Company’s APAC Healthcare & Life Sciences practice, based in Singapore.

 “To thrive in this changing landscape, healthcare players must embrace tech solutions and form strategic partnerships to develop new capabilities, delivering convenience-driven, integrated care across the entire care continuum,” he added.