Madrid to introduce AI to aid doctors by 2026

The Community of Madrid, in a bid to combine cutting-edge technologies with everyday healthcare practices, has announced plans to introduce artificial Intelligence (AI) into primary care consultations. It could be game-changing for both professionals and patients.

This innovative system, which is set to launch in 2026 will use AI to automatically transcribe conversations between doctors and patients, extracting medical information from the conversation and adding it to their digital health records.

Primary care: A new era

This week the regional government announced the AI tool as part of its Digital Transformation Plan for Primary Care. The plan is backed by Next Generation EU recovery funding. With a total investment of €1.8 million, the project is currently in the tendering phase and is expected to be awarded this summer.

What is its main objective? Release doctors and nurses from the administrative burden of many health systems today.

Health professionals in Spain currently spend a large part of their time filling out forms and writing reports. They also update medical records while waiting for patients. According to estimates from the region, this system could reduce administrative duties by up to 70 percent, allowing doctors to focus on patient interaction rather than data entry.

How Does it Work?

The AI system will listen to primary care consultations. Think of the system as a supersmart secretary that is always on top of things. It will record the conversation, remove the unnecessary chatter, and only include the relevant medical information in the patient’s clinical file.

It will produce a structured report at the end of consultation that doctors can use to review for further care or referrals.

The AI will have no access to any external clinical information. This is important to protect the privacy of patients. According to Madrid’s Department of Digitalisation, the report generated will only contain what is necessary to update a patient’s records.

The Healthcare Staff and Patients Win

This could be a positive change for healthcare professionals. Many GPs feel overwhelmed by administrative aspects of medicine, in particular in busy urban centers like Madrid. The AI tool will streamline documentation and make consultations more efficient.

Not only will patients benefit from shorter waits, but they’ll also receive better care. As doctors spend less time doing paperwork, they can focus on listening, diagnosing, treating and educating patients.

Madrid’s public health system serves 6.7 millions residents, so its impact could be huge.

Spain’s Healthcare Goes Digital

Spain has made steady progress in digitising its health infrastructure, particularly since the COVID-19 epidemic highlighted the need to have more agile and tech-savvy healthcare systems. Many regions have made progress, from e-prescriptions and virtual consultations to this AI transcription system.

The project, a joint effort between the Regional Ministries of Health and Digitalisation reflects a broader strategic approach to modernise the public services and keep patient well-being at the core of innovation.

Look Ahead

Although 2026 may seem far off, the foundations are already in place. Madrid, if AI-driven healthcare is successfully implemented, will become a national leader.

Next time you find yourself in a GP office in Madrid, and you notice that your doctor is focusing on you in a way you don’t expect, you shouldn’t be shocked. You might be surprised to learn that there is a silent AI in the background helping doctors do what they are best at: caring for you.