1. Introduction
Medic Helpline (“MedicHelpline”, “we”, “our”, or “us”) operates an online platform that provides trusted health information and helps users discover hospitals, treatments, and healthcare services.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, disclose, and protect your information when you access or use our website, mobile experiences, and related services (collectively, the “Services”).
2. Scope and your consent
By accessing or using our Services, you consent to the collection and use of your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy and any applicable terms of use published on our website.
If you do not agree with the practices described here, you should discontinue use of the Services and, where applicable, request deletion of your account and data as described below.
3. Information we collect
3.1 Information you provide to us
- Account and profile information: Name, email address, phone number, password, and any other information you provide when creating or updating an account (if account functionality is enabled on the site).
- Health and preference information: Optional details you share about your health concerns, location, preferred hospitals, specialties, or treatments to help us show relevant information and options.
- Communications: Information you provide when you fill out forms, submit queries, request call-backs, subscribe to updates, or contact us by email or other channels.
- Content and reviews: Any content you choose to submit through the Services, such as feedback, ratings, questions, or comments about hospitals and healthcare services (if available).
3.2 Information collected automatically
- Usage and device data: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers, pages viewed, date and time of visits, referring URLs, and interaction data collected through cookies and similar technologies.
- Location data: Approximate location derived from your IP address or browser settings, and more precise location if you grant us permission through your device or browser.
3.3 Information from third parties
- Healthcare partners and hospitals: We may receive information from hospitals and healthcare providers listed on our platform if you interact with them through our Services, such as appointment status or service usage, subject to their own privacy practices.
- Analytics and advertising partners: Aggregated or pseudonymous information from analytics and marketing tools to understand performance and improve the Services.
4. How we use your information
We use the information collected for the following purposes:
- To operate, maintain, and improve the Services, including our health information content and hospital discovery features.
- To personalise your experience, such as showing relevant hospitals, treatments, and health information based on your preferences and location.
- To respond to your requests, questions, and feedback, and to provide customer support.
- To communicate with you about updates, service changes, security alerts, and marketing or promotional content (where permitted by law and your communication preferences).
- To protect the security and integrity of our Services, prevent fraud and abuse, and comply with legal obligations.
- To generate aggregated, de-identified insights about platform usage and healthcare trends to help improve health access and decision-making.
7. Legal bases for processing
Where applicable data protection laws require a legal basis for processing, we rely on one or more of the following: your consent, performance of a contract, compliance with legal obligations, protection of vital interests, and our legitimate interests in operating and improving the Services and supporting healthcare access.
When processing is based on your consent, you may withdraw that consent at any time, without affecting the lawfulness of processing that occurred before the withdrawal.
8. Data retention
We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide the Services, comply with legal and regulatory obligations, resolve disputes, enforce our agreements, and pursue legitimate business purposes.
When information is no longer needed, we will take reasonable steps to delete, anonymise, or securely store it in accordance with applicable laws and our internal policies.
9. Data security
We use reasonable technical and organisational measures designed to protect your information from unauthorised access, misuse, loss, or disclosure, taking into account the nature of the data and the risks involved.
No method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security, but we work continuously to improve our safeguards.
10. Your rights and choices
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, such as the right to access, correct, update, restrict, or delete your data, or to object to certain processing activities.
You may also have the right to withdraw consent, change communication preferences, or lodge a complaint with a data protection authority. To exercise these rights, please contact us using the details provided in the “Contact us” section below.
11. Children’s privacy
Our Services are intended for use by adults and are not directed at children under the age of 18, unless used under the supervision of a parent, guardian, or authorised caregiver.
If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child without appropriate consent, we will take reasonable steps to delete such information as soon as practicable.
12. International data transfers
Your information may be stored and processed in countries other than your own, which may have different data protection laws from those in your jurisdiction.
When we transfer personal information internationally, we take appropriate measures to protect it in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable law.
13. Third-party websites and content
The Services may include links to third-party websites, apps, content, or services, including hospital and healthcare provider websites listed on our platform.
This Privacy Policy does not apply to third-party properties, and you should review their privacy policies to understand their practices before providing personal information.
14. Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or the features of the Services.
When we make material changes, we will update the “Effective date” at the top of this page and, where appropriate, provide additional notice through the Services.
15. Contact us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us using the contact details provided on our website’s contact or support page.
When you contact us, we may ask for additional information to verify your identity and help respond to your request securely.