mDhil to launch health application for Android

mDhil, a company offering mobile health services via SMS, is planning to roll out an Android application in early 2011.
In an email response to Telecom Yatra, Nandu Madhava, chief executive officer, mDhil, said, “Our initial services focused on SMS subscriptions via mobile carriers. However, now that India is a 3G market, we have created a mobile optimised website and original downloadable videos. In relation we are planning for an Android app in the early half of 2011.”
mDhil, which was launched this year, focuses on preventative health and wellness information. According to Madhava, the potential of mobile phones in enabling positive health outcomes and new business opportunities is immense. The m-health industry has developed rapidly, and there has been a seismic shift in perceptions of opportunity.
He says, “We have seen strong growth from a younger audience interested in sexual health, family planning, contraception, women’s health, etc. We also create content and services around nutrition, diet, diabetes, and topical issues like dengue fever and swine flu.”
mDhil has till now never worked with the government but Madhava says that he would be happy to work with the government and with non-profit sectors. “Some of our best insights on the health challenges in emerging markets have come from the health professionals who work with NGOs, government hospitals, and grassroots development agencies,” he adds.
The company currently offers subscriptions on all major operators such as Airtel, Idea, BSNL etc.
Madhava also believes that India’s health challenge is not solely a rural problem. He says, “Urban consumers are actually our main audience. India’s health challenges are not isolated at the bottom-of-the-pyramid; there are huge challenges throughout our population. For example, obesity, diabetes, smoking-related cancer, etc are exploding in an urban population.”