Vhi Healthcare Launches Vhihealthe

13th June 2000 - Vhi Healthcare today (Tuesday, 13 June, 2000) launched Vhihealthe @ www.vhi.ie - the first web site in Ireland offering customised healthcare information to the consumer.

Vhihealthe provides interactive access to comprehensive and authoritative healthcare information and services with 35,000 health articles including an a- z of health issues and international and Irish content on a wide range of health topics.

"Today's launch delivers on Vhi's commitment to provide customers with information about health and healthy living. Health is one of the most accessed topics on the web and an estimated 40% of content on the internet is health related. Over 40% of the 41 million Americans who use the internet use it to search for health information. Vhihealthe will provide the growing number of Irish internet users - currently 22% of the population and expected to increase to 45% by 2003 - with a wealth of health information, interactive tools, and personalised health news and information," said Vhi Healthcare chief executive, Oliver Tattan.

"While America has led in e-health, Ireland is catching up fast and today's launch puts Vhi ahead of other European health insurers in terms of e-health strategy. Vhihealthe will expand and develop over time, keeping pace with internet and healthcare technology and the increasing expectations of Irish healthcare consumers. From today, anyone can log onto vhi.ie, design their own home page and sign up for a customised weekly e-mail addressing the health topics that matter to them," he added.

The international content on Vhihealthe is supplied to Vhi by US-based provider of healthcare information and services, Consumer Health Interactive (CHI). Vhihealthe also contains Irish sourced and focused information and services. Over time, Vhi intends to complement the international information with additional localised information that is tailored to reflect Irish medical terms, treatments and practices.

The Vhi Health Portal will provide users with:

• Access to a comprehensive database of health information covering conditions, treatments, preventative medicine, and healthy living advice relevant to all life stages that go beyond those conditions and treatments currently covered by Vhi
• Customised features enabling users to build their own health home page and receive personalised weekly newsletters tailored to their health interests.
• Interactive tools and other features to help users better understand and manage their health
• Details of health services in Ireland and Vhi services and products

• A facility to allow customers organise individual or family health records in a single and secure place.
• Facilities for Vhi customers to enquire about and administer their Vhi policy details on-line.

"The Vhi Health Portal will continuously evolve with the ultimate goal of creating an on-line healthcare community in Ireland bringing together all participants – customers, healthcare providers including doctors and hospitals, voluntary organisations, and Vhi," said Mr Tattan.

"Vhi welcomes feedback and comments from users of Vhihealthe . They can post their views on the site and we will respond to them," said Mr Tattan.