Google Health is designed to allow users to keep all their health information, such as medical history, lab tests and doctors, and be able to search for online resources that match their medical profiles. Users can also send records to doctors, clinics and hospitals via their Google Health profile, as well as pull information from their clinic records into their personal file.

“Google is not a 'covered entity' under the (U.S.) Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and therefore, the provisions of that law do not apply to what Google does with your info,” writes paidContent's David Kaplan. “That means if you disclose details such as whether you have AIDS, HIV or any sexually transmitted disease, have been treated for drug an alcohol abuse, have had an abortion, or have a genetic predisposition to any diseases, you just have to trust Google to keep that information secure.”

The service is free, and Google is not including advertising, Slashdot reported Tuesday.

Google's two-month pilot project for the service earlier this year was a huge success. The pilot was limited to 1,600 patients, and was over subscribed quickly, The New York Times reported Tuesday.

Along with other online health services sites, such as WebMD, Google has entered the online health market with “a leading online brand, deep pockets and a wealth of technical skills,” and hopes to capitalise on the online health sector, according to The New York Times.

Google Health is partnering with more than 24 companies and institutions, such as Walgreens, CVS and the American Heart Association, and will hopefully eventually have “thousands of partners and millions of users,” Marissa Mayer, vice president of search products at Google, told The New York Times.