Mumbai: Facebook launched a healthcare tool in the US for users to find nearby healthcare centers and book their appointment. Users can also set reminders and schedule their tests and note the dates when tests are completed.
Making a social hub to set healthcare reminders, Facebook launches “Preventive health” tools to connect users to healthcare resources and sends check-up reminders for maintaining health and regular check-ups.
The tool was launched for the first time in the US. Now, Facebook users can connect with nearby affordable healthcare resources and get checkup reminders. Users can mark the tests when they are completed.
Freddy Abnousi, Facebook’s Head of Healthcare Research said “Our initial focus is on the top two leading causes of death in the US: heart disease and cancer, (according to CDC) as well as the flu, a seasonal illness that affects millions each year,” On Monday.
Abnousi said, “In the US, people can search for Preventive Health in the Facebook mobile app and find out which check-ups, such as cholesterol tests or mammograms, are recommended by these health organizations based on the age and sex they provide.”
“Reminders for flu shots will also appear at the appropriate time of year,” he added.
Facebook also show ads according to the users’ interest and data they have filled in the healthcare tool. “Personal information about your activity in Preventive Health is not shared with third parties, such as health organizations or insurance companies, so it can’t be used for purposes like insurance eligibility,” Abnousi stated.
Earlier Facebook has launched this feature in Brazil, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the US. Users can register themselves as a blood donor and they get the notifications when nearby blood banks are in need.
“So far, more than 50 million people have signed up to donate,” Abnousi said. “According to our blood bank partners in India and Brazil, 20 per cent of voluntary, walk-in blood donors are coming from Facebook,” he added.