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Health Policy Rejection: Correcting Inaccurate Health Apps Declaration

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Issue

App Status: Rejected
Your app has been rejected and wasn't published due to the policy issue(s) listed below. If you submitted an update, the previous version of your app is still available on Google Play.

	
Issue found: Inaccurate Health Apps Declaration
The Health Apps declaration form within Play Console that you have provided for your app is inaccurate.

Any app that accesses health data and/or offers health-related features must complete the Health Apps declaration form within Play Console. Your app has not met these requirements in accordance with the Health Content and Services policy.

We found a discrepancy between your current declaration and the functionalities of the app. This includes instances where irrelevant or excessive categories have been selected, or where appropriate categories have been omitted.

During our review, we have identified functionalities that relate to the following categories:

Healthcare Services and Management
Please review and update your selections to ensure accuracy. This includes removing any irrelevant or excessive categories and adding any necessary ones.

Please visit our Help Center Article for more information on accurately declaring the functionalities offered by your app.

Issue details

We found an issue in the following area(s):

Policy Declaration for Health Apps: "Book doctor appointments, consult via telemedicine, explore hospital listings, and read patient reviews. Secure, user-friendly."
To bring your app into compliance, follow these steps:

Update your Health apps declaration form. Select all applicable categories.
About the Health Content and Services policy

Solution

Step 1: Understanding My App’s Functional Scope

Reevaluate My App’s Functionalities:

  • My app lets users:
  • View doctor profiles.
  • Book appointments based on doctor profiles.

It does not seem to involve complex healthcare services like clinical decision support or management of patient data by doctors.

Step 2: Filling Out the Health Apps Declaration Form

  • Go to Play Console and log in to your developer account.
  • Select your app from the dashboard.
  • Navigate to Policy and Programs > Declarations > Health Apps Declaration.
  • In the declaration form, make sure you only select categories that directly relate to the core functionality of your app:

Healthcare Services and Management:

Since your app allows booking appointments and viewing doctor profiles, you should select this category but ensure it’s correctly described as a simple appointment booking system and profile viewing.

Avoid irrelevant categories such as Clinical Decision Support, as your app doesn’t provide diagnosis, medical treatment, or healthcare management services.

Step 3: Updating Your App Description

To align with the Health Apps Declaration, make sure your app description (both Short and Full) highlights its limited scope:

Example Short Description:
“Browse doctor profiles and book appointments effortlessly with MyHospital Doctor App.”

Example Full Description:
“MyHospital Doctor App enables users to browse profiles of licensed doctors and schedule appointments for consultations. The app offers a streamlined approach to finding qualified doctors, viewing credentials, and booking appointments. It does not store or manage sensitive health data, ensuring user privacy and a simplified experience.”

Step 4: Submit and Review

After updating both the form and your app descriptions:

  • Save your changes and submit the updates for Google’s review.
  • Avoid excessive or misleading claims that imply your app offers more than it does.

Key Takeaways for Developers

  • Declare only relevant functionalities.
  • Update your app descriptions to reflect its core features.
  • Appeal if necessary, with an explanation of any corrective changes.

Following these steps helps ensure My app’s declaration is accurate, enhancing the likelihood of smooth approval.

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