Basic security principles should also be an absolute minimum, including requiring strong passwords to be set, and encryption of sensitive data.įor tips on how to safeguard your information when using apps that might process sensitive data, read our story on health apps and security. Which? believes that apps should more clearly acknowledge the limitations of their service so that users are aware of what they're likely to get, as well as being clear on what data they collect and who they share it with. We were also sceptical about why Babylon's Android app requires 30 permissions, which was the highest of all the apps we looked at. Babylon's website uses 20, which is also more than we'd like to see. You'll also want to minimise the amount of data you give up, but WebMD uses a high number of tracking cookies on its website: there are 56 of them following you around on. However, all three apps accept 'password1' as a password, and none provide two-factor authentication to provide additional account security. Poor passwords are a no-go for anyone with half a mind on security, so setting a strong password for any services that deal with personal data is a must. Thankfully, no major security flaws were detected for these three apps, but there are some common issues between them that we'd like to see fixed. We looked at what permissions the apps request, how many cookies they're using to track you online and whether their privacy policies are compliant with GDPR. In January 2021, we asked security research specialists 6point6 to assess health apps (including Ada, Babylon, and WebMD) and their associated websites for how well they protect your privacy and security. Unfortunately, we've found that there could be more than a misdiagnosed symptom to worry about if you're replacing an in-person visit with a phone. As such, knowing that any sensitive health data you do release is under lock and key is an important consideration. It's important to note that Ada, Babylon, and WebMD all emphasise that they shouldn't be used as tools for diagnosis, though we can't help but think this is how most people will approach them in reality.įind out more about the benefits and limitations of three popular medical apps, Ada, Babylon and WebMD.Įven if they're not perfect right now, there's great potential for apps to help deal with medical queries more regularly in the future. We've previously put symptom checkers to the test and got different responses for the same medical queries from each one. Ada was the best-performing symptom app, with 70% accuracy, and the GPs got it right 82% of the time, but Babylon only managed to accurately suggest a condition in a third of cases. It is worth noting that some of the study's authors work for Ada.Īda and Babylon both came out similarly to real GPs in their assessment of urgency, but there was a big difference in how accurately they predicted the condition. With slick design and seemingly advanced triaging technology, these are tempting little tools to have in your pocket, but the advice you get will depend on which one you use.Ī recent study in the BMJ looked at how accurately symptom-checker apps, including Ada and Babylon, suggested conditions based on user input, and how well they judged the urgency of the problem, in comparison with GPs. Now, you can use apps like Ada, Babylon and WebMD, which provide AI chatbots or interactive tools intended to offer more tailored advice. We've all at one point or another fallen into the trap of Googling our symptoms. Mobasher Butt, chief medical officer at Babylon, has argued that lack of access to medical services is a bigger health issue, which Babylon is well placed to combat.įor more, read our previous investigation into online GP services. GP surgeries have had to embed remote services as part of their normal offering.Īnd while the pandemic has proven the viability of remote consultations in some ways, there are still reasonable concerns about where the balance lies between quick, digitalised - and in some cases - privatised healthcare and the continued integrity of the NHS.įor many, the rapid rise in popularity of services such as Babylon also raises issues of digital exclusion and a two-tiered healthcare system. Of course, remote consultations are no longer just the domain of medical apps. There are apps that offer video appointments with real GPs, like GP at Hand and Babylon's private service, that are ostensibly stepping in to fill a gap where the NHS is overburdened.
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