Digital Health Observatory

Since 2022, the Digital Health Practices Observatory, launched by EDHEC’s Management in Innovative Health Chair and Ipsos, has been examining how people in France perceive, use and view digital health technologies, as well as their expectations of them.

The Observatory at a Glance

69%

of people in France still feel they are not sufficiently informed about digital health tools.

40%

fear that digital technologies could make healthcare less human.

< 5/10

average level of trust in AI to inform medical decisions.

The 2026 Observatory findings reveal a mixed picture. While difficulties in accessing care are increasing the potential value of digital solutions, their uptake continues to be hindered by a persistent lack of information and trust. Nearly 69% of people in France feel insufficiently informed about digital health tools, while 40% fear that these technologies could make healthcare less human. Artificial intelligence is also attracting growing interest, yet its average trust score for informing medical decisions remains below 5 out of 10.

The findings also show that the adoption of health technologies depends on more than technical performance alone. It is shaped by social and demographic factors, as well as by the ability of these tools to meet users’ expectations regarding data security, clinical validation and the preservation of human interaction throughout care pathways. Uptake also varies according to age, educational attainment and user profile, raising concerns that digital health technologies could perpetuate existing inequalities.

At a time when 59% of people in France report difficulties accessing specialist care, the challenge is therefore to determine the conditions under which digital health and artificial intelligence can improve access to and continuity of care without creating new forms of exclusion. The Observatory tracks changes in usage and perceptions over time, while identifying the conditions required for a more informed, inclusive and responsible adoption of digital health innovation.

DOWNLOAD THE 2026 OBSERVATORY REPORT