Patients now ask AI assistants like ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity about symptoms, treatments and which doctor to see, often before they search Google or ask a friend. The assistant answers with a short list of names. Clinics that are clearly described, consistently listed and well reviewed across the web are the ones that make that list.
How many people use AI for health questions?
Health is one of the most common reasons people use AI assistants. In January 2026, Business Today reported on an OpenAI study finding that:
- around 40 million people worldwide use ChatGPT for health and medical questions;
- over 55% of survey respondents used it to ask about symptoms;
- 48% used it to understand medical terms;
- 44% used it to explore treatment options.
These are global figures. We have not found a reliable, published survey that measures how many patients in India specifically use AI to choose a doctor, and we would treat any precise Indian percentage with caution. What is clear is the direction of travel: AI assistants have become a normal first step in health research.
What does the new patient journey look like?
A typical journey for a parent in Pune might now look like this:
- Symptom question: “My 4-year-old has had a fever for three days. When should I see a doctor?”
- Understanding: follow-up questions about possible causes, tests and what to expect.
- Shortlist: “Which paediatricians near Pimple Saudagar are good?” The assistant names two to five clinics, often with ratings and a line about each.
- Check: the parent opens Google Maps or the clinic website to confirm timings, location and reviews.
- Book: a phone call, WhatsApp message or online appointment.
Step 3 is where the decision effectively gets made. Most people never look beyond the names the assistant gives them.
How does an AI assistant decide which doctors to mention?
No AI company publishes an exact formula, and each product works differently. When an assistant searches the web to answer a local question, though, it draws on the same sources a careful person would check:
| Source | What it tells the AI |
|---|---|
| Google Business Profile and maps listings | Specialty, location, timings, rating and review content |
| Your clinic website | Services, conditions treated, doctor qualifications and registration |
| Health directories and hospital pages | Independent confirmation of who you are and where you practise |
| News, articles and association pages | Third-party evidence of expertise and reputation |
| Structured data (schema markup) | Machine-readable facts: name, address, specialty, hours |
The common thread is consistency. If your clinic name, address and specialty are identical everywhere, an AI can be confident about recommending you. If they conflict, it may leave you out.
What should clinics do about it?
- Complete your Google Business Profile. Choose the most specific category, add accurate hours, photos and services, and reply to reviews. Our Google Business Profile guide for doctors walks through every step.
- Publish clear, factual pages on your website. Have one page per major service or condition, starting with a plain-language answer to what patients ask. Name the doctor, list qualifications and registration details, and show when the page was last reviewed.
- Keep your details identical everywhere. Use the same clinic name, address, phone number and specialty on your website, Google, Practo, Justdial, hospital pages and social profiles.
- Add structured data. Schema markup such as
MedicalClinic,PhysicianandFAQPagetells machines exactly who you are and what you offer. - Make sure AI crawlers can read your site. Some hosting firewalls block bots such as GPTBot and PerplexityBot by default. Ask your web team to check.
- Earn genuine reviews. Ask satisfied patients for honest Google reviews. Never offer incentives, and never reveal patient details when replying.
- Test it yourself. Ask ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity the questions your patients ask, every quarter, and note who gets named.
Stay within the rules. In India, doctors are restricted from self-promotional advertising. Accurate patient education is fine; claims about being “the best” or boasting about cures are not. Read what NMC rules allow before you publish.
Are AI health answers reliable?
Not always. AI assistants can give confident but wrong medical information, which is one more reason for doctors to publish accurate, well-sourced content: it gives the AI something reliable to draw on. Your website should also encourage patients to seek professional care rather than rely on AI for a diagnosis.
Key takeaways
- Tens of millions of people use AI assistants for health questions, and many go on to ask for doctor recommendations.
- The assistant’s shortlist is where patients’ choices are increasingly made.
- Consistent listings, clear website content, structured data and genuine reviews make your clinic easier to recommend.
- Check your visibility directly by asking the AI tools your patients’ questions.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay ChatGPT to recommend my clinic?
No. At the time of writing, AI assistants’ recommendations in answers are not something you can buy. They depend on what the AI finds and trusts about you across the web.
Do I still need SEO if patients use AI?
Yes. AI assistants that search the web rely on search indexes and on many of the same quality signals. Good SEO and a strong Google Business Profile are the foundation of AI visibility.
Does Practo or Justdial help with AI visibility?
Directory listings help mainly by confirming your details from an independent source. Keep them accurate and consistent with your website and Google profile.
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Sources
- 1 in 4 ChatGPT users rely on AI for healthcare support weekly, Business Today (7 Jan 2026)
- Guidelines for representing your business on Google, Google Business Profile Help
Written by Team Spyronix, Pune. Last reviewed .