Several tech companies have been making forays into the medicine field by creating gadgets and services meant to make access to health information, diagnoses and consultancy easier. Just recently, information came out that Facebook Inc is secretly working on an online medical support community for its users.
And now, the owner of the world’s biggest search engine, Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL), is said to be testing a telemedicine helpout service that enables those searching for specific symptoms to have online consultation with medical professionals through video chat.
The search for health information on the internet is good, but could be dangerous at times, especially when one reads articles or chats with someone who claims to be an expert but isn’t. Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) has realized that and is now making it possible for such people to discuss their medical issues with real professionals and not some quacks. For the trial period, the tech giant will be footing the bill.
“When you’re searching for basic health information — from conditions like insomnia or food poisoning — our goal is provide you with the most helpful information available,” Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) spokesperson said in an email to Re/code. “We’re trying this new feature to see if it’s useful to people.”
There are several minor conditions that can be easily diagnosed online. This is also true where someone has a known condition and would only like to get information on how to manage it. In such a case, if you get an online consultation with a health professional, it will be easier to find the right solutions without much hassle.
However, it’s important to note that the new service by Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) won’t replace physical medical check-ups as what doctors can do online is limited. There are specific medical needs that will still demand that you visit a medical facility.
This article has been written by Victor Ochieng.
