Microsoft launch healthcare initiative ahead of Google - Net.Matters - October 2007

Over the last few months there has been speculation in the US over which of the Web giants, Microsoft or Google, would announce an online healthcare initiative first.  Microsoft has beaten Google to it by announcing this month its launch of HealthVault.  With 2 years in development (and still only available as a test version), the website aims to give users greater control over their personal health information and greater choice when it comes to choosing treatments.

Both Google and Microsoft recognise the potential offered by the healthcare market - a poll by Harris in the US published in July reports that 52% of adults check the Web for health related matters (figures from Jupiter Research put the figure at 58%).  This figure is up from the 29% reported in 2001 (source: New York Times).  The associated healthcare services and advertising revenue is there for the taking.  The Harris poll also uncovered the fact that 58% of adults discuss web search results with their doctor: "The doctor is becoming a knowledge navigator", states John D. Halamka, a doctor and the Chief Information Officer for the Harvard Medical School.  "In the future, health care will be a much more collaborative process between patients and doctors."

Microsoft's HealthVault offers an online health database and enables the user to store, upload and access personal health data for individuals and their dependants.  In time it is envisaged that doctors, hospitals and clinics would be enabled to transfer information directly to a HealthVault account - information such as prescriptions, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. 

Microsoft's HealthVault has some major US partners signed up to the initiative - all of whom support a trend towards individuals taking more control over the management of their healthcare.  Organisations reported in the New York Times and the BBC website include the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association, the Mayo Clinic, Johnson & Johnson LifeScan, New York Presbyterian Hospital and Medstar Health.

The American Heart Association is partnering Microsoft in a move to find alternative ways for reducing heart disease and the collaboration provides an online blood pressure management tool.  Their president Dr. Daniel Jones sees the possibilities: "The potential here is very great.  And we all recognise the power of Microsoft to reach millions of households."

As a result of the partnerships in place and those still in early dialogue, Microsoft aims to differentiate itself from Google by offering specialist content for online health searches and monitoring facilities. 

Google's offering is yet to be announced (experts predict 2008) but they also recognise the potential: "There is a big user information need.  Which we should ultimately fill." (Marissa Mayer, Google vice president).  A Google prototype, Google Health is on the drawing board - allowing users to hold a "health profile", store a tailored "health guide" for recommended remedies and treatments, diet and exercise programmes, reminders for prescriptions and so on. 

One of the major concerns for either the Microsoft or Google initiative is privacy and how to maintain it.  Microsoft claims to have developed HealthVault adhering to privacy principles:  Microsoft is a member of theTruste Privacy Program; cookies and search logs are deleted after 90 days and search terms and advertisements are deleted after each session.

Implementation and applicability to a UK market may be a harder nut to crack.  The Daily Telegraph reports this month that 7.4 million Britons currently have private medical insurance (research by Laing and Buisson).  It may takes us a while longer to embrace responsibility for our healthcare and longer still to feel confident enough to liaise with our GPs online.