PC Health launches AI-powered health assistant for Canadians
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PC Health, owned by Loblaw Companies Limited, has launched a new AI-powered health assistant that allows Canadians to ask health questions and receive plain-language information based on Canadian clinical sources, expanding the use of artificial intelligence in everyday health services.
Called PC Chat, the free tool is available through PC Health and Shoppers Drug Mart platforms. Users can ask a range of health questions and receive information intended to help them better understand their concerns and determine an appropriate next step, including whether they should speak with a pharmacist or another health-care provider.
Loblaw says PC Chat draws on more than 1,000 Canadian clinical sources, including health guidelines, professional associations and other Canadian health resources. Canadian medical professionals were also involved in reviewing how the system works and the information it uses.
Canadians appear to be testing the service in significant numbers. The company says PC Chat processed more than 100,000 questions during its first week.
Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacy customers can also choose to connect their digital pharmacy profile to PC Chat. Doing so gives the tool additional context about their medication history, allowing it to provide responses that are more relevant to their individual circumstances, according to the company.
Loblaw stresses, however, that the tool does not replace doctors, pharmacists or other health-care professionals and should not be used in emergencies. Its role is to provide health information and help users understand possible next steps, while medical emergencies require immediate professional assistance.
Privacy is also emerging as an important issue as AI tools move further into personal health information. Loblaw says PC Chat conversations are stored in Canada and protected under Canadian privacy laws, and that users control what information they choose to share. Experts interviewed by The Canadian Press, however, have raised questions about ensuring users clearly understand how their health data may be used, particularly when the service is operated by a commercial company that also provides pharmacy and health services.
The launch comes as many Canadians are already turning online for health information. Research commissioned by PC Health found that 88 per cent of Canadians searched online for health information during the past year, while 46 per cent said they were unsure whether the information they found was accurate and 33 per cent encountered conflicting advice.
PC Chat is currently available in most Canadian provinces, with expansion to Quebec and New Brunswick planned alongside the French-language version later this fall.
