London, UK//- – Hospitals and academic medical centres (AMCs) are increasingly central to the world’s intangible economy, as data from Brand Finance shows that the global total value of IP and intangibles held by listed healthcare businesses has reached USD10 trillion, representing 84% of total business value.
This value includes patents, proprietary formulas, and research and development pipelines, underpinned by research and clinical trials developed within leading hospitals and AMCs – reinforcing the importance of reputation in global healthcare.
Against this backdrop, healthcare professionals perceive Johns Hopkins Medicine and Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trustto be the strongest and second strongest hospital brands globally for the second consecutive year, according to a new report from Brand Finance, the world’s leading brand valuation consultancy.
Brand Finance research finds Johns Hopkins leads the ranking due to its exceptional brand funnel performance, combining awareness, familiarity, consideration, and recommendation, and strong perceptions across key patient-care metrics. It also achieves the highest across all 500 brands researched for ‘offering patients access to the latest clinical trials’, reinforcing its reputation among healthcare professionals in research excellence and innovation.
Data from Brand Finance’s GIFTTM study also highlights the United States’ considerable role in healthcare intangibles, accounting for over half of the total global value at USD5.5 trillion. However, this leadership may be put at risk by reductions in public research grant funding, including cuts to NIH (National Institutes of Health) and NSF (National Science Foundation) support.
Alfred DuPuy, Valuation Director, Brand Financecommented: “U.S. AMCs continue to dominate the global ranking, with five institutions in the top 10 and 32 in the top 250.
However, maintaining this position will depend on whether these institutions can sustain their reputation for innovation and research excellence amid shifting global funding and talent dynamics.
Brand Finance research also indicates that global healthcare professionals’ consideration of working at U.S. hospitals in clinical or research roles has declined since November 2024, creating an opportunity for leading AMCs in other markets to attract international talent.”
Top-performing hospitals in key markets include All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) as the leading hospital in the South Asia region. Singapore General Hospital has regained its position in 2026 as the leading hospital in the APAC region. King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (MENA) and Groote Schuur Hospital (South Africa) maintain their respective regional leader positions, while Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires in Argentina has climbed eight places to 28th globally to become the most reputable AMC brand in South America.
Brand Finance’s global study of 2,500+ healthcare professionals across 30 countries finds that hospitals’ overall reputations continue to be anchored in enduring fundamentals. Statistical analysis shows that the metrics most important in driving reputation are: ‘is internationally recognised and has the relevant accreditations’, ‘delivers best in class patient outcomes’, and ‘strongly associated with its specialisms’.
While AI is receiving growing attention and investment, the attribute ‘uses and applies artificial intelligence’ ranks in the lower half of reputation drivers globally and has declined in relative importance over the past year.
Hugo Hensley, Valuation Director, Brand Finance, added: “Brand Finance’s study of the world’s strongest hospital brands shows that reputational advantage in healthcare is earned through international recognition and accreditation, best-in-class patient outcomes, and specialist care.
These are the foundations of trust, underpinned by the expertise and accountability of clinicians. While many leading hospitals also score strongly for their use of AI and advanced technologies, innovation is most powerful when it enhances, rather than defines, excellence in patient care. In a fiercely competitive global hospital sector, the strongest brands are those that balance world-class patient care, research, and training, building trust and driving consideration across the healthcare ecosystem.”
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