People are so used to self-diagnosing themselves using Google Search whenever they feel something is not right about their health. Life insurance company Pru Life UK has now added the Symptom Checker feature in its mobile app called Pulse.

Pulse was launched a few months ago and offers edge AI (artificial intelligence)-powered health technologies that provide users with access to real-time health information wherever they are, round the clock.

One of Pulse’s main features, Symptom Checker, is an AI-driven tool powered by UK-based healthcare technology and services company Babylon. Made accessible to Pulse users through the partnership between Pru Life UK’s parent company Prudential and Babylon, the Symptom Checker acts as a gateway for users when seeking care. It is designed to help users better understand their worrying symptoms and direct them to seek advice from healthcare professionals.

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To ensure the Symptom Checker is a useful tool for people to explore their health, local doctors and translators work together with a team of epidemiologists, engineers and data scientists to build a version that is clinically validated and attuned to the Philippines.

Pulse health tab

“Pru Life UK is proud to provide these smart digital self-help tools to help users understand their health better and empower them to make more informed health decisions. We encourage Filipinos to use Pulse to prevent, postpone, and protect themselves against the onset of diseases,” said Allan Tumbaga, SVP and chief customer marketing officer, Pru Life UK.

The Symptom Checker tool can be easily navigated in the health tab of the Pulse app. Users can enter their symptoms and answer questions via a chatbot interface to receive fast outcomes and suggestions for next steps, by identifying related risk factors from the symptoms and information entered by a user. At the end of the conversation, users are guided to an appropriate triage outcome (e.g. Self Care, Pharmacy, GP, GP urgent, Hospital or Hospital urgent) and provided further information about possible causes.

Health management platform

Pulse is constantly updated with enhanced features, information, and relevant functionalities to current health concerns. The Symptom Checker, for example, has recently been updated to provide alerts on specific symptoms and conditions that could be related to COVID-19. With this updated feature, it can provide additional information that can help the user identify if they need treatment or if they can look after themselves, based on local healthcare guidance.

In addition, Pulse has recently added new features and benefits, including the Hospital Locator, Pulse Beats, Safe Steps Safety Card, and the latest free offering of COVID-19 coverage and Personal Accident insurance.

The Hospital Locator provides a map that navigates nearby hospitals and clinics to help users access immediate healthcare services. Education materials such as Pulse Beats and the Prudence Foundation led Safe Steps Safety Card are found in the home tab on Pulse to give health information and suggest preventative measures against certain illnesses, including COVID-19.