The global AI chatbots in healthcare market size was estimated at USD 1.20 billion in 2024 and is anticipated to reach around USD 10.26 billion by 2034, expanding at a CAGR of 23.92% from 2025 to 2034.
Statistic numbers signify the chatbots’ unambiguous trend and great future of chatbots in healthcare. This is not just about patients who prefer using the potential of modern AI solutions and chatbots in healthcare to make their life a bit easier, it’s about healthcare specialists as well.
So let’s dive into it, highlighting the existing types of chatbots in healthcare and things to pay attention to in chatbot development for healthcare industry.
The Evolution of Chatbots in Healthcare
Although the technology is not new and dates back to the 1960s, the rise of chatbots happened to coincide with the development of AI — one of its crucial components. The evolution stages of the technology are illustrated below:
As you can see, it took more than 50 years for the technology to develop to its current state. And although it still has plenty of space for improvements, there will be a good future of chatbots in healthcare as chatbots rapidly grow in popularity in this sector. As for today, AI chatbots in healthcare are primarily used in mobile applications that fall into four main categories.
These AI tools enhance accessibility and efficiency by offering 24/7 support, symptom checks, and appointment scheduling. The benefits of chatbots in healthcare include reducing wait times and improving patient engagement. The use of chatbots in healthcare streamlines workflows for better outcomes.
Types of Chatbots in Healthcare
So what are the existing categories of mHealth app development and AI chatbots in healthcare? Let’s point them out with examples.
Chatbots-Psychologists
This type of digital health assistant is aimed at delivering cognitive-behavioral therapy. As the study on Woebot shows, the app works great in terms of providing psychological support, and its users can significantly reduce their symptoms of depression.
Chatbots-Receptionists
The second type is aimed at providing answers to questions frequently asked in the hospital that utilizes a chatbot. The above-mentioned digital receptionist Eve helps patients of the Australian biggest hospital to register, book appointments, and connect with a Duty Doctor.
Chatbots-Consultants
Consulting digital health assistants can help with pre-diagnostic issues, advising on the period when a patient needs to see a doctor based on the symptoms specified by a user. Also, it can be useful in cases when a patient doesn’t have access to medical help.
Chatbots-Nurses
Digital nurses work as some kind of reminder program. After a patient specifies the information on the name of the medicine, the number of times to take it a day and the number of pills prescribed in one go, a digital nurse will send kind reminders every time a patient needs to take a pill.
All of the four types of digital health assistants offer the precious convenience of saving time and money while taking health issues seriously. But what benefits of chatbots in healthcare are left for the healthcare providers? Let’s find out.
The Benefits of Use of Chatbots in Healthcare
The key advantages of using chatbots in healthcare include:
Better Health Monitoring
Since the process of recovery depends not only on the doctor’s competency but also on how a patient acts on medical advice, chatbots in healthcare can help in providing better patient monitoring. They can serve as reminders of taking prescribed medicine and arranging timely appointments.
Quick Access to Crucial Data
If a chatbot used within a medical organization is in charge of keeping records, doctors can quickly access patient’s data, diminishing time spent by corresponding employees on getting the same work done.
Increased Patient Trust
Being free from a human factor, chatbots are ideal for helping patients in choosing the right healthcare provider, showing the most conveniently located hospitals, and even providing information on its workers.
Calendar Arrangements
With chatbots, it becomes easier for both doctors and their patients to plan appointments.
Extra Help
Chatbots are helpful in providing patients with information, including answers to simple questions and some minor recommendations that previously would require a patient to visit a doctor.
Considering the fact that chatbot development for healthcare is a comparatively new option, there are plenty of other benefits we could expect in the future. As for now, the technology is not perfect and has some significant disadvantages.
Chatbot Imperfection
Many would ask: if chatbot development for healthcare industry is so good, why aren’t they used as an alternative to visiting doctors? And the answer is — because health issues always require much attention to emotions and this is where chatbots fail.
Yes, the technology learns from the surrounding world due to machine learning solutions, but in its current state, it is too far from reading emotions and acting accordingly to the received information.
Guide to Chatbot Development for Healthcare
Chatbot development for healthcare industry is a complicated process that requires:
Information Source Integration
Chatbot development for healthcare incorporates AI and data integration, enabling chatbots to access patient records, medical guidelines, and drug databases. This enhances accuracy in providing tailored advice and supporting clinical decisions.
Natural Language Processing
It allows a chatbot to understand human-generated language and enables the user to talk to a chatbot with voice.
Natural Language Generation
It contributes to human-like conversations with a chatbot, allowing it to generate logical sentences, ask additional questions, and provide relevant answers.
Image Recognition
Enables digital health assistants to recognize body deviations and, as a result, provide better recommendations.
Sentiment Analysis
It allows collecting feedback and in this way promotes better decision-making.
IoT Integrations
Allow receiving information on a patient’s health status from wearables to analyze it and generate personalized recommendations.
Although the list is not complete and there are always some additional issues arising from the project requirements for custom healthcare software development, paying attention to these points is important when developing a quality digital health assistant.
Having more than 20 years of experience in delivering healthcare analytics solutions, patient management solutions as well as completed projects featuring chatbots in healthcare, we will be happy to answer all of your questions concerning the development of a digital health assistant.
The future of chatbots in healthcare
AI-powered chatbots are poised to lead a revolution in healthcare. As artificial intelligence continues to transform the healthcare landscape, it is essential to grasp how these chatbots are reshaping the industry.
AI Integration
AI integration will enable better diagnostics, streamlined communication, and improved health outcomes. Leveraging AI, chatbots can analyze patient data to deliver tailored recommendations, ensuring that care is specific to individual needs.
Multilingual Support
As healthcare becomes increasingly global, chatbots equipped with multilingual capabilities can cater to diverse populations, breaking down language barriers and ensuring that all patients receive accurate information.
Wearable Integration
Wearables can track vital signs and health metrics continuously. When integrated with chatbots, they enable real-time data analysis and instant feedback to patients, enhancing proactive health management.
Voice Assistants
Patients can receive instant health updates and reminders through voice commands, allowing for timely interventions and improved adherence to treatment plans.
Predictive Analytics
By leveraging predictive models, chatbots can offer personalized recommendations based on individual health data, improving patient engagement and adherence to treatment protocols.
Conclusion
In conclusion, AI chatbots are transforming healthcare by enhancing patient engagement, streamlining workflows, and offering timely support. While challenges like empathy and emotion recognition remain, rapid advancements in AI and NLP are bridging the gaps. The projected market growth underscores their significance, paving the way for a future where chatbots become integral to healthcare delivery.
FAQ
How do chatbots enhance patient engagement?
Chatbot development for healthcare boosts patient engagement by offering 24/7 support, personalized health tips, and timely reminders. These tools empower patients to manage their care more effectively, fostering better communication and adherence to treatments.
How secure is the data shared with chatbots?
Data shared with chatbots can be secure if robust encryption, HIPAA compliance, and strict access controls are implemented. Ensuring chatbot security requires adherence to privacy regulations and ongoing monitoring to protect sensitive patient information.
What’s the future of chatbots in healthcare?
The future of chatbots in healthcare includes advanced AI for accurate diagnoses, integration with wearable devices, and enhanced multilingual support. They’ll offer personalized care, streamline workflows, and improve global healthcare access.
