Google launches health cards in India to allow users to access health information

Search engine giant Google has launched new health cards in Knowledge Graph, which anyone in India could use to search for health information and get it more quickly and easily. Google's initiative is supported by Apollo hospitals and Columbia Asia hospitals for this feature in India.

When users searched for a common health condition, the card would appear on mobile or desktop screen with all the relevant information about the disease.

Users would now be able to get dedicated information on over 400 health conditions like malaria and dengue fever with the app. The app would also be supported on Android and iOS phones and tablets, as also on mobile and desktop browsers.

India is the third country after the US and Brazil to have health information in the Knowledge Graph, with the content designed specifically for the Indian context.

The cards available in both Hindi and English covered common local conditions. According to Google, though, these search results were not intended as medical advice but only for informational purposes. Google will automatically load a lighter version of the cards when it detected a slow internet connection, so that people could access the information they needed quickly.

Google has been adding little features in its search to try and ensure users need not leave the search page at all. For instance, yesterday, Google and FreemantleMedia Asia collaborated to let fans of shows like Idols, Got Talent and The X Factor vote for people they supported across Asia from Google Search.

In January, Indian Railways and Google deployed their first free public WiFi service starting with Mumbai Central. In a tie-up with the Indian Railways and RailTel Google would provide high-speed WiFi coverage at 400 stations across India in September last year.

In December 2015, the Indian government granted and in-principle approval to Google's balloon powered internet service Project Loon.