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Photo: Facebook
Facebook has launched new healthcare features Facebook, a leading social network with 2,41 billion active users worldwide, is taking the next step towards the healthcare market. Last month, Mark Zuckerberg‘s company introduced the “Preventive Health” tool that connects people to health resources, allowing setting reminders to schedule tests, mark when tests are completed, and more. Likes for health Many of today’s leading health threats aren’t ones that science or medicine can solve alone. Changing trends in communication and unequal access to care mean there is a need for new solutions and partnerships to overcome these global challenges.
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For example, blood shortages. Every few seconds, someone in the world needs blood. But people often aren’t aware of shortages and don’t know where to donate. To address this, Facebook launched a feature in the US, India, Brazil, Bangladesh and Pakistan that makes it easy to sign up as a donor on Facebook and get
notified when nearby blood banks are in need. So far, more than 50 million people have signed up to donate. According to the company’s blood bank partners in India and Brazil, 20% of voluntary, walkin blood donors are coming from Facebook. Another area Facebook is exploring is preventive health. Tens of millions of people in the US are missing out on recommended preventive care, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To address the problem, Facebook is working with US health organisations to offer a new Preventive Health tool that connects people to health resources and checkup reminders. The initial focus is on the top two leading caus-
