Date:14/09/2009 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/bline/ew/2009/09/14/stories/2009091450060200.htm

Back Health-wise

Paromita Pain

Now take your health records where ever you go. If the portal Healthizen.com is to be believed, uploading your health details online will be as easy as social networking.

Explains Anand Anupam, Co-founder, Healthizen.com, “The portal allows individuals to upload their health records, both medical and lifestyle. Based on the records, the platform creates a unique health profile for the candidate and suggests inter ventions and recommendations based on the health risks or conditions identified in the profile.”

The tracking tools monitor health parameters over time — such as calories consumed, recommended calories, BMI, body fat, calories burnt, and more, with the health calculators, while risks of back pain, diabetes, depression, stroke and heart can be calculated with the health risk assessments.

Expert advice

Now this isn’t just software at work. “The portal also has a panel of medical experts. Individuals can refer their profiles to them based on their requirements for getting immediate responses to health and medical queries as also for second opinion,” says Anupam. Some services are available for free online. “Diet and lifestyle consultations are also done on phone with our in-house experts as a premium service, wherein we help users achieve their health goals through diet and lifestyle planning,” he explains.

The Healthizen Power Card, a healthcare loyalty and discount card, currently launched only in Mumbai and Pune, is a paid membership card. It allows users to avail themselves of the services of over 350 partners, such as hospitals, doctors, pharmacies, gyms and diagnostic labs. The recipe section is an interesting one with quick dishes that are easy to rustle up and healthy too.

New concept

“The healthcare market here is very fragmented. It took time to create awareness amongst consumers and healthcare providers to get them onto the platform and start using our services. We generate revenues from consumers who opt for our premium services. Additionally, health brands engage with us to add value to our consumers through their products and services,” says Anupam. Future plans include making the portal accessible through media other than the Internet, such as the mobile, he says..

paromita.pain@gmail.com