2026 State of FHIR Report: The Growing Importance of Structured Data in the Age of AI
2026 State of FHIR Report - Firely
Summary
A survey of 101 experts across 63 countries shows that FHIR has evolved from a mere standard into critical global infrastructure. Crucially, the advancement of AI is seen not as a threat, but as a catalyst driving deeper investment in structured data (FHIR), which is increasingly mandated by regulations and adopted nationally.
Details
According to the annual report, "2026 State of FHIR Report," the global adoption status of FHIR for healthcare information exchange was surveyed. The findings from 101 experts across 63 countries indicate that FHIR has transitioned from a standard into critical global infrastructure. Key findings include increasing regulatory involvement (80% of countries mandate or advise it) and deepening national adoption (81% use it for at least some national use cases). A notable finding is the "AI paradox": experts believe AI's advancement does not diminish the value of investing in structured data like FHIR (72% disagreed). Furthermore, the most common barrier remains a lack of FHIR knowledge. The report confirms that FHIR is moving from pilot stages into national operational phases, with adoption deepening across various organizations.
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