5 Trends in HealthTech to Watch in 2026
Are we ready to book a doctor appointment via ChatGPT? Why should wellness become a priority for healthcare software companies? What trends will be shaping digital products in healthcare in 2026?
Managing health with ChatGPT
In 2025, OpenAI launched a new Apps SDK that allows developers to embed fully interactive third-party applications directly into the ChatGPT experience.
At the beginning of 2026 OpenAI introduced ChatGPT Health so healthcare and wellness apps can now also be a part of ChatGPT experience. Now it allows to better understand medical data, fitness plans etc. but soon it might be much more - enabling for example to make a doctor appointment via Chat GPT.
Instead of patients having to leave ChatGPT to visit a clinic website or use a separate scheduling app, healthcare services can now be integrated right into the conversational flow. Patients can soon ask ChatGPT to help find doctors nearby, explore available appointment slots, and complete bookings – all without switching context or opening a separate app.
Naturally, scheduling a doctor’s appointment is only one example. It is up to digital product builders to critically assess whether their HealthTech applications truly deliver value to patients when embedded within OpenAI’s ecosystem. This validation should be a top priority for every healthcare technology builder in the coming weeks as conversational platforms increasingly shape how people access healthcare.
Learn what OpenAI update means for digital products, including HealthTech.
Wellness is growing driven by Millennials and Gen Z
The wellness sector is growing, driven by younger generations who have made it a top priority. Notably, this segment of healthcare appears remarkably resilient; Millennials and Gen Z are unwilling to compromise on wellness even during financial disruptions. According to a McKinsey study:
Wellness is more important to consumers than ever
In the United States alone, we estimate that it represents more than $500 billion in annual spend, growing at 4 to 5 percent each year. (Despite macroeconomic volatility through the first half of 2025, we believe the wellness category is resilient. Meanwhile, 84 percent of US consumers say wellness is a “top” or “important” priority (in the United Kingdom, that figure is 79 percent, while it soars to 94 percent in China).
We still need to wait for a global breakthrough in AI for diagnostics
Although in recent years, there was widespread discussion about AI's potential in diagnostics, actual implementations in this field remain limited, despite many companies actively working on it. We'll see if 2026 will bring a true breakthrough for companies working on diagnostics, with patients actively benefiting from AI-powered solutions.
Here are examples of companies and organizations working on implementing AI in disease diagnostics that are worth watching in 2025: SkinVision, iCAD, Eyenuk, AinnovaTech, Cleerly, AI Dermatologist.
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Chronic diseases will continue to drive the future of healthcare technology
Chronic diseases account for approximately 74% of all deaths globally according to WHO. This includes cardiovascular diseases, which are the leading cause of death worldwide, responsible for about 17.9 million deaths annually, followed by cancers (9.3 million), chronic respiratory diseases (4.1 million), and diabetes (2.0 million).
The significant issue that many health system providers must address is not only the rising number of patients with chronic diseases but also the fact that these conditions are starting to affect people much earlier than in previous generations.
A notable example is ulcerative colitis (UC), a type of inflammatory bowel disease, that is increasingly being diagnosed in children and adolescents. While it traditionally affects individuals in their late 20s, recent trends indicate a rise in pediatric cases.
In many cases, chronic diseases are also considered invisible diseases, as they often present no visible symptoms in those suffering from them. However, this does not mean that the people around us don’t require regular healthcare. In another article, we delved into the subject of developing technology for patients with invisible diseases.
Hybrid apps as investor magnets in the healthcare industry
What lessons can healthcare startup founders take away from these challenging years?
If possible, start small, low-cost, and validate your idea quickly. Building an MVP is essential, but the choice of technology is just as critical. Hybrid technologies including React Native and Flutter, while not perfect, can be the best option for startups to validate their ideas and secure the funding necessary for scaling.
However, it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach, and not every startup founder should blindly follow this trend. If you’re planning to build a complex solution that operates extensively in the background or relies heavily on Bluetooth communication, then native development is the only viable path.
Also, some MVPs simply cannot be low-cost due to the complexity of the technology or the requirements of the healthcare domain. Additionally, many startups have to rely on bootstrapping or securing initial funding before they can even begin thinking about market validation. Hybryd app cannot be a investor-magnet in cases like that.
Read our blog post to explore the differences between native and hybrid app development.
Feeling excited about any particular trend in healthcare software?
These are top healthcare technology trends that might shape the future of HealthTech. 2026, we are ready for you!