The NoAppForThis! Podcast

Episode 2 | Rethinking User Empowerment and Data Rights in Health Apps.

NoAppForThis Season 1 Episode 2

Episode 2 |Rethinking User Empowerment and Data Rights in Health Apps. 

Health apps have become increasingly popular and are often used to track various aspects of personal health, from physical activity and sleep patterns to monitoring chronic conditions and medication reminders. 

However, the collection and use of personal health data by these apps raise concerns about user empowerment and data rights. It is crucial for individuals to understand what data is being collected, how it is being used, and who has access to it. 

Users should have the right to own and control their health data, including the ability to easily access, modify and delete it. It is also important for app developers to be transparent about their data practices and adopt robust security measures to protect personal health data from unauthorised access or breaches.

In today’s episode, Terry Gichuhi hosts Daniel Kitheka, one of the developers in the experimental incubator. They discuss the health app solution Daniel is working on. 

The discussion covers several key aspects of the solution, including the inspiration behind the idea, the functionality of the app, potential risks associated with user empowerment and data rights, and development practices employed by app developers to mitigate the risks. 

"For more details on the Home- and Community-Based Care framework in Kenya, please check out:  http://guidelines.health.go.ke:8000/media/home_and_community_based_care_in_kenya.pdf


The NoAppForThis podcast is part of a project by Wellcome Trust, implemented across 3 countries (Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa) by the Open Institute, The Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA), and The Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) working in collaboration with the of University of Warwick, in the UK University of Nairobi, and University of Witwatersrand in South Africa.

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