A recent survey conducted by the Chinese public health media outlet Life Times found that over 70% of doctors in China recommend "AI Doctor Services" for everyday health needs. The survey highlights widespread support among physicians for using AI to manage routine health inquiries and daily health management.
Doctors reported that AI systems, which possess extensive domain knowledge, can handle large volumes of consultations, respond patiently, and help alleviate patient anxiety, particularly with routine or repetitive questions.
Additionally, the survey revealed that over 60% of doctors currently utilise AI doctor services to assist in their work, and more than 90% expressed optimism about the future development of AI in healthcare.
Ant Group's AQ
Among the platforms evaluated, Ant Group's AQ emerged as the most frequently recommended service. AQ connects users to digital services from 5,000 hospitals, offers online consultations with 300,000 doctors nationwide, and features support from over 500 AI Doctor Agents.
As of January 2026, this AI-driven health app leads in China, with 30 million monthly active users and answering over 10 million health-related questions each day.
Although AQ does not offer medical diagnoses or replace licensed physicians, it was co-developed by leading doctors and key hospital departments across the country.
Mao Hongjing, the deputy director of Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital and a nationally recognised sleep specialist, noted a significant increase in his capacity to assist patients after implementing AI. He shared that he could treat approximately 10,000 patients in person each year before using AI, but through his AI Doctor Agent on AQ, he responded to inquiries from 3.68 million users within just one year.
