Confusion is the dominant feeling of people worldwide as they try to make sense of an abundance of health information, while at the same time many are losing trust in their country’s healthcare system.
This is one of the core findings that Karl Stubbe shares as he presents results from 2026 edition of Edelman’s Trust & Health Report. “Globally, two-thirds of people are saying that their country is divided on healthcare issues”, he notes, and in Germany, “66% are saying they have lost trust in the healthcare system.”
Heatedly debated health issues include the safety of vaccines and whether raw milk is better than pasteurized milk, Stubbe notes. Conflicting information from different sources on the Internet have led to “a major plunge when it comes to health confidence”, he says.
Chatbots and AI do not help. “People are not looking for more information, they’ve got enough”, Stubbe stresses. “AI has just added another layer.” What people are really looking for is a guidance, he adds.
Stubbe is joined by Ariane Maria Malfertheiner of MSD; Courtney Gray Haupt, Edelman’s Global Health Chair; and Philipp Steitz of Merck to discuss why doctors remain the most trusted voice, and how AI is already being used for symptom checks, second opinions, and emotional support.
Watch the video to explore this session in detail.
