Whenever we need any information, the first thing that majority of us with a smartphone having Internet connection do is open Google and make a quick search about it. This information can be anything – about a multi-national company, a company’s CEO, a country’s political leader, a meaning of some French word, or heck, even a symptom. Yes, there are many people who resort to Google search to know more about some symptoms of health conditions, and hence, to make things simpler for them, Google is rolling out its Symptoms Search feature in India.
With Google’s Symptoms Search feature, it becomes easier for users to get more information about a symptom that can lead to different health conditions. For example, when you search for “cough and pain”, Google will show you a list of conditions like common cold or pneumonia with more information.
Besides, if you search for something like “headache”, then Google will show you information on how you can treat it yourself. Moreover, the provided information will also let users know if its time for them to visit their doctor.
“By doing this, our goal is to help you to navigate and explore health conditions related to your symptoms, and quickly get to the point where you can talk to a health professional or do more in-depth research on the web.” said Henrique Bejgel, Software Engineer, Google Search.
Google says that this information is tailored to India, and, they also worked with a team of doctors at Apollo Hospitals to bring this feature to Indian users.
Commenting on their partnership with Google for Symptoms Search feature, Ms. Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited, said, “Apollo Hospitals has always been committed to empowering individuals with knowledge and involving them in their own care. This is a significant trend and we are happy to have partnered on this initiative with Google. With the launch of the Symptom Search Project, we aim to provide quality healthcare information which can be accessed by a billion Indians.“
This Symptoms Search feature will be available to Indian users in Hindi and English language on both Android as well as iOS. However, it’s worth noting that this information provided through Symptoms Search can never be an excuse to not visit a doctor. After all, it’s just some basic information that should help you identify your health condition.
