When patients arrive at clinics armed with AI-generated health advice, how should doctors respond? On 26 June 2025, the pressing question sparked hot discussion at a panel hosted by the British Chamber of Commerce Shanghai, where healthcare experts discussed the challenges of using medical evidence when patients have easy access to online health information, which sometimes contradicts doctors’ advice.
Evidence-based medicine combines the best scientific research with individual patient needs to guide medical decisions. It shifts healthcare from tradition to data-driven precision.
To be specific, it requires doctors to integrate current clinical evidence with patient preferences (such as data from medical examinations), replacing experience-driven practice with rigorously verified clinical evidence as the gold standard for decision-making.
Dr. Zheng Chen, Deputy Director of Jiahui Family Medicine Fellowship, underscored the delicate balance between clinical evidence and patient autonomy. “Building trust is key,” he noted, acknowledging the growing trend of patients cross-referencing doctors’ advice with multiple advisors.
Meanwhile, Dr. Sarai Nietvelt of United Family Healthcare highlighted the unique hurdles of general practice in China, where physicians juggle diverse specialties while navigating evidence hierarchies—from gold-standard studies to cost-driven compromises.
The conversation expanded beyond the clinic. Dr. Jing Ji of Abbisko Therapeutics outlined the high-stakes race to develop new drugs, emphasizing the need for rigorous FDA-aligned trials in China’s competitive biotech landscape.
And Allan Chen, Lead of R&D, Wellness Medical and Scientific Affairs Team of Haleon China, shifted focus to over-the-counter care, stressing the importance of evidence-based consumer education and the role of well-informed consumers in choosing effective OTC.
Theresa Zhou, BizPro consultant specialising in marketing, Former Novartis Marketing Director, highlights the importance of high-quality data in driving the price.
During the free talk section, panellists agreed on the importance of data driven promotion strategies to address different patient needs and preferences.
Given the lively discussion, participants called for a dedicated follow-up session to further explore AI’s healthcare applications.
BritCham Shanghai remains committed to fostering dialogue among industry experts, offering platforms for sharing insights on emerging trends and innovative healthcare topics.
Join us this September for our next discussion: “How is AI Being Utilized Across the Healthcare Sector, and What Does the Future Hold?” We welcome your insights and participation! More detail will be announced soon.
