An app that's good for the health

With an increasing number of Thais realising that they cannot perform properly unless they are healthy, annual check-ups for preventive screenings and early detection of disease have become part of the executive lifestyle.

Vibhavadi Hospital is now making the process a whole easier with its new “V Health Check” application for smart phones that allows users to check for indicators of high blood pressure and diabetes.

It’s the brainchild of the hospital’s Wellness and Occupational Health Service Centre and physician Dr Nuttapol Prajoubpansri is confident that the app will fly

“Today more people are paying attention to preventive screening and early detection, realising that prompt action if a diagnosis is made early in a disease, the chances of a complete recovery are much higher.  Of course, some are still scared that a check will reveal a serious disease as worry about the costs. 

The ‘V Health Check’ serves as a symptom checker for blood pressure, stress, menopause, diabetes, kidney, liver and heart disease as well as cancers.

“The test, which consists of frequently asked questions, allows for risk levels to be assessed by the application and the required health check programme will be determined along with the price. In the future, this application will cover all types of health check even before the patient makes an appointment with the doctor,” he explains.

A crowd of young and presumably healthy celebrities turned out for the launch earlier this month, among them actress Sarocha “Bua” Viriyamettakul, actress and former Miss Thailand Chalisa “Ming” Boonkrongsab, and Thai-Moroccan actor Kandon Faris Akhazzan.

“I have an annual health check,” Bua says. “If you are scared, just download this health app and check it out before going to the hospital.”

“I regularly have my health and today I’ve brought along my mum too. Many people continue to think that a health check is not important but they need to realise that prevention is better than cure. The new app should encourage more health checks,” says Ming.

Kandon is enthusiastic about the new app, saying it had clarified some of his doubts. “It’s very convenient,” he says.

Until the end of this month app users are entitled to a 12-per-cent discount by showing it to the centre. It can be downloaded for free from the App Store: search for “VHealthCheck”