New Delhi, February 17 Healthcare is at a turning point globally, with artificial intelligence (AI) set to have its greatest impact in the sector, and India represents a "remarkable opportunity" in this transformation, Royal Philips CEO Roy Jakobs said on Tuesday.
Acknowledging India's role, Jakobs, while speaking at the AI Impact Summit 2026, said the country is uniquely positioned to lead this change, with its scale, digital infrastructure, and ambition.
Royal Philips is a Dutch multinational health technology company.
"Initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat, the Digital Health Mission, are laying the groundwork for interoperable data and continuity of care at a population scale. This is precisely the kind of foundation that AI needs to deliver meaningful impact," he said.
Jakobs said that globally, healthcare systems, including in India, are facing unprecedented pressure due to rising demand, increasing complexity, stretched workforces, and this pressure would accelerate the adoption of data and AI-driven innovations.
He said that a shift has already begun in this direction to create an intelligent health system.
"We are moving towards an integrated AI-enabled healthcare system, where intelligent systems support clinicians and nurses to make faster, better decisions," he said.
He added that this opportunity will further expand as data scales and AI evolves.
However, he said that AI alone cannot transform healthcare; it must be embedded in systems where data workflow and clinical expertise should work seamlessly together.
Jakobs also cautioned that "Healthcare runs on trust" and stressed the importance of a responsible AI ecosystem, which must operate within evolving regulatory frameworks.
"Responsible AI is foundational. Human oversight remains central," he said, adding "AI therefore must be transparent. It must be continuously validated. It must rigorously protect patient data. It must operate within evolving regulatory frameworks."
He suggested that governments and innovation in AI must move together to protect trust and build confidence.
"Why is this so crucial? Because if trust erodes, adoption stops," Jakobs said.
The Netherlands-based company is one of the leading players in health technology. It has a comprehensive portfolio ranging from patient monitoring solutions, ultrasound machines, MRI systems, and CT solutions.
He further said that Philips, which has been operating in India for almost 100 years, is not only a market but also a global innovation engine for the company.
Philips has two R&D centers in India – the Healthcare Innovation Centre (HIC) based in Pune, and an innovation campus in Bengaluru.
