Smart, the leading mobile operator in the Philippines, has launched a range of mobile health services with the country’s Department of Health, says GMA News. Services include broadcasting health information via SMS to Smart’s subscriber base. This can include the delivery of news, updates, health campaigns as well as collecting user concerns, questions, their participation in surveys and monitoring of a disease outbreak.

Smart says examples are advice on dengue fever prevention, vaccination reminders and health seminars. The service is based on Smart’s Infoboard technology which is designed for the delivery of SMS-based campaigns to particular user groups.

Mobile technology can also be used by the country's department of health to improve efficiency in clinics and health centres.

Smart’s parent PLDT also announced a contact centre which users can call with heath concerns. The health hotline service is called 165-DOH and handles inquiries from both fixed and mobile phones from across the Philippines.

The operator says it is the only one of its competitors offering mobile health services. The current announcement is not its first in the market. Last year it launched an initiative called Shine (Secured Health Information Network and Exchange) that is targeted at health practitioners.