Artificial intelligence (AI) could help Filipino doctors and other healthcare workers find trusted medical information faster as the Philippines struggles with a nationwide shortage of healthcare professionals.
The country lacks approximately 290,000 healthcare workers, according to the EDCOM II Report 2026. It also has only about four doctors for every 10,000 people, below the World Health Organization (WHO) benchmark of 10. Only two of the country’s 17 regions meet the recommended doctor-to-population standard.
These shortages can lead to longer waiting times, heavier workloads for healthcare workers, and unequal access to medical services, particularly in provincial communities.
Healthcare organizations are now studying whether evidence-based generative AI can help address some of these problems. The technology allows doctors to ask questions using everyday language and quickly review medical information based on established research.
However, AI cannot add more doctors or replace medical professionals. Its potential value lies in helping existing healthcare workers find and assess relevant information more efficiently.
“Artificial intelligence has significant potential to support healthcare professionals, but its value ultimately depends on the quality and reliability of the information behind its responses,” said Hong Nguyễn, regional director, APAC, Wolters Kluwer. “A key challenge with generative AI in healthcare is ensuring that clinicians can understand where information comes from, whether it reflects current evidence, and whether it can be independently evaluated.”
Wolters Kluwer recently met with Philippine healthcare and education leaders in Manila to discuss the use of AI in medical education, clinical learning, and healthcare delivery. The discussions focused on keeping medical information reliable as hospitals and schools adopt new technology.
During the workshop, the company presented UpToDate Expert AI, a generative AI service built on the evidence-based medical content available through UpToDate. Healthcare professionals can ask medical questions and review its answers alongside the supporting content.
This approach is designed to address a major concern about generative AI: Some AI systems can provide incorrect or outdated answers without clearly identifying their sources. In healthcare, such errors may affect clinical decisions and patient safety.
The Medical City, Jose R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, and Makati Medical Center are among the publicly announced Philippine organizations evaluating evidence-grounded generative AI. More than 45 institutions in the country, including hospitals, medical schools, and the Department of Health, use Wolters Kluwer clinical solutions.
“Technology should be grounded in the best available evidence and used alongside the clinician’s expertise, experience, and professional judgment,” Nguyễn said. “Healthcare professionals must continue to critically assess information and understand the sources behind it. We believe AI can help make trusted knowledge more accessible, but it should strengthen, not replace, clinical judgment.”