A software bug has delayed the launch of Apple HealthKit on iOS8 preventing developers from making HealthKit apps. “We discovered a bug that prevents us from making HealthKit apps available on iOS 8 today. We’re working quickly to have the bug fixed in a software update and have HealthKit apps available by the end of the month,” said Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller in a statement. Unveiled in June at the Worldwide Developers Conference, the HealthKit platform will serve as an integrative hub for third-party health and wellness-related apps. Users can decide what information is placed in HealthKit and which apps can access their data through the Health app. Apps that access HealthKit are also required to have a privacy policy, which is a key risk that Apple has yet to fully address.
Related: Will Apple’s HealthKit Turn the Grays of HIPAA Compliance into Black and White?
According to Cult of Mac, WebMD was expected to release their HealthKit based app on Wednesday however those app are unavailable for download at this time. Brian Mueller, developer of weight-loss app Carrot Fit was informed by Apple Wednesday morning that their app had been pulled at the last minute due to unspecified issues. “The rep couldn’t clarify what was wrong,” Mueller told Cult of Mac, “though users of the app who had already downloaded the update were able to use the HealthKit features without any issue.”
This week, Apple announced diabetic and chronic disease medical trials using HealthKit with Stanford University Hospital and Duke University. Stanford University Hospital medical trial will be focused on diabetes that will allow physicians to track diabetic children blood sugar levels. Young patients with Type 1 diabetes will be sent home with an iPod touch to monitor blood sugar levels between doctor’s visits. Duke University will be using the HealthKit platform to track blood pressure, weight and other measurements for patients diagnosed with cancer or heart disease.
Take your digital health knowledge to the next level by enrolling in a unique and free 5-part email course. You’ll receive little-known, but vital insights, original research and analysis that’s critical to your success. Click here to learn more and enroll.
