STADA Health Report highlights resistance among Irish public to adopting AI in healthcare, with majority favouring in-person consultations
Six-in-ten Irish people see mental health as the country’s biggest healthcare challenge, the results of a new survey suggest.
The research, which gathered the views of 501 Irish people, also found that just over one-in-four (27 per cent) believe the state currently supports mental health needs well.
The survey was part of a poll of almost 20,000 people across 20 European countries by Irish pharmaceutical products supplier Clonmel Healthcare and parent company STADA.
It revealed that 61 per cent of Irish adults identify rising mental health issues as the country’s biggest health challenge – the highest rate of all countries surveyed and above the 53 per cent average.
When asked how they would prioritise healthcare resources, 43 per cent of Irish respondents said they would focus on expanding mental health services, almost double the average European average of 23 per cent.
However, the poll also found scepticism amongst the Irish public when it came to the adoption of AI in healthcare, including mental health.
Ireland placed last among the 20 European nations surveyed for AI health adoption, with nearly three-in-five Irish adults (59 per cent) currently not using the technology in relation to their health.
When asked what the barriers were to using AI, 51 per cent were worried about how their personal data would be managed, while 50 per cent express concern around reduced interaction with medical professionals.
Over half (53 per cent) said they would never trust an AI diagnosis as much as a doctor’s, with 60 per cent insisting on face-to-face therapy or mental health support over digital alternatives.
“In day-to-day general practice, we see firsthand that medicine is as much about empathy as it is about science,” said GP Dr Ciara McKenna.
“While AI has incredible potential to support us clinicians behind the scenes with administration, Irish patients are telling us they do not want to lose the personal relationship with their doctor or therapist.
“As we address the very real mental health challenges in our communities, a truly effective future health system must be built around a human-first approach to care, ensuring technology supports, rather than replaces, the personal connection that remains vital to patient recovery.”
The survey found that 47 per cent of the Irish public expressed satisfaction with our public healthcare system, below the 20-country average of 56 per cent.
However, 63 per cent of people here assessed their own mental health as good, while 83 per cent said they felt in control of their own health, ranking Ireland fifth-highest in this area.
Across the 20 countries and 20,000 people surveyed, 55 per cent said they are currently using AI for health. Almost a third (29 per cent) said they used the technology to better understand a diagnosis, while 23 per cent referred to it for preventative care.
However, 79 per cent still prefer an in-person consultation with their doctor over virtual alternatives. In Ireland, this figure rises to 86 per cent, the fourth highest among the 20 countries surveyed.
“This research highlights a clear digital divide: while healthcare systems look to automation and digital tools for efficiency, Irish patients are clear – when it comes to personal care, trust still depends on human connection,” said Clonmel Healthcare CEO Donagh O’Leary.
“The data shows that as we look to the future, the solution to our healthcare challenges is not to replace human care with digital alternatives, but to better support our healthcare professionals.
“By empowering our local pharmacists and GPs with the right resources, we can build a highly effective, hybrid system that maintains the trusted personal relationships Irish patients clearly value most.”