Investing.com -- Artificial intelligence is poised to transform the healthcare industry, but investors should tread carefully as regulatory challenges and reimbursement issues weigh on the sector.
AI has potential to drive efficiencies in drug discovery, diagnostics, and administrative workflows.
However, despite AI’s ability to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs, the widespread adoption could take longer than expected due to complex regulatory approvals and integration challenges within healthcare systems.
Barclays expects the AI healthcare market to grow at a compound annual rate of over 30% through 2030, supported by rising investment from pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, and insurers.
AI-driven imaging and diagnostics companies, as well as drug development platforms leveraging machine learning, stand to benefit the most from this trend.
However, challenges remain. Investors should be mindful of the evolving regulatory landscape, particularly in the U.S. and Europe, where AI-powered tools face stringent approvals from the FDA and EMA.
Additionally, reimbursement policies for AI-driven diagnostics and treatments remain uncertain, which could impact the adoption rate among healthcare providers.
The Barclays note identifies a handful of companies that could be key beneficiaries of AI’s integration into healthcare.
Large-cap players like UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) and Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE:TMO) are well-positioned due to their existing AI-driven solutions and strong market presence.
Among smaller firms, AI-native companies such as Tempus and Recursion Pharmaceuticals are seen as high-risk, high-reward bets.
These firms are at the forefront of AI-driven drug discovery and diagnostics, but their valuations reflect a long investment horizon, Barclays notes.
Meanwhile, medical imaging companies integrating AI, such as GE Healthcare and Siemens (ETR:SIEGn) Healthineers, could see steady growth as AI-driven diagnostics become more widely accepted.
Despite AI’s disruptive potential, Barclays warns that regulatory scrutiny, data privacy concerns, and the high costs of AI implementation could slow progress.
While AI can streamline clinical workflows and improve decision-making, trust in AI-driven outcomes remains a critical hurdle, citing recent FDA delays in approving AI-based diagnostic tools.
Barclays remains cautiously optimistic, stating that while AI in healthcare offers long-term value, investors should expect near-term volatility as the industry navigates regulatory and operational roadblocks.