ChatGPT Health: OpenAI Launches a Dedicated Health Experience

Article at a glance

• Announcement date: 7 January 2026
• What’s new: OpenAI has introduced ChatGPT Health, a dedicated health and wellness experience within ChatGPT
• Purpose: To help users organise and understand health information while supporting, not replacing, clinical care
• Key features: A separate health space, medical record and wellness app connections, enhanced privacy controls, and physician-led development
• Availability: Launching via a waitlist, initially for users outside the UK, EU, and Switzerland

Introducing ChatGPT Health

On 7 January 2026, OpenAI announced ChatGPT Health, a dedicated experience within ChatGPT designed specifically for health and wellness conversations.

According to OpenAI, health and wellness questions already represent one of the most common uses of ChatGPT, with over 230 million people globally asking health-related questions each week, based on de-identified analysis. ChatGPT Health builds on this usage by providing a purpose-built environment intended for handling sensitive health information more securely and with additional contextual awareness.

The stated aim of ChatGPT Health is to help people feel more informed and prepared when navigating health-related information, while explicitly positioning the tool as a supplement to, rather than a replacement for, professional medical care.

A dedicated space for health information

Health information is often distributed across multiple sources, including patient portals, wearable devices, apps, PDFs, and clinical correspondence. This fragmentation can make it difficult for individuals to view information in context or identify longer-term patterns.

ChatGPT Health is designed to bring these sources together in a single, dedicated space. Users can choose to connect medical records, link wellness apps, or upload files such as lab results and visit summaries. Conversations within Health can then reference this information to provide more contextually relevant explanations or summaries.

The experience is intended to support understanding and preparation, such as clarifying terminology, summarising information ahead of appointments, or reviewing trends over time. It is not intended for diagnosis or treatment.

Privacy and security design

OpenAI states that ChatGPT Health operates as a separate space within ChatGPT with additional protections due to the sensitive nature of health data.

Key characteristics include:

• Health conversations, files, and connected apps are stored separately from other chats
• Health has its own memory system, keeping health context contained within the Health space
• Health information does not flow back into non-Health chats
• Conversations in Health are not used to train OpenAI’s foundation models

Health builds on ChatGPT’s existing security architecture, including encryption at rest and in transit, with added, purpose-built encryption and isolation designed specifically for health-related conversations. Users can view or delete Health memories at any time and may enable multi-factor authentication for additional account security.

Connecting medical records and wellness apps

ChatGPT Health allows users to connect certain medical records and wellness applications, with access always requiring explicit permission.

To support medical record connections in the United States, OpenAI partners with b.well, a health data network used to securely connect consumer health information. Users can remove access to medical records at any time through settings.

Users may also connect wellness and lifestyle apps, including:

• Apple Health (requires iOS)
• Function
• MyFitnessPal
• Weight Watchers
• Peloton
• AllTrails
• Instacart

OpenAI states that all apps available within Health must meet defined privacy and security requirements, collect only the minimum data needed, and undergo additional review specific to Health. App access can be revoked at any time.

Developed with physicians

ChatGPT Health was developed with input from practicing physicians. Over a two-year period, OpenAI reports working with more than 260 physicians across 60 countries, covering dozens of specialties. This group reviewed model outputs over 600,000 times to help identify what makes health-related responses helpful, clear, and safe.

This collaboration informed how Health communicates information, including how it encourages follow-up with clinicians and prioritises safety. These principles are evaluated using HealthBench, an assessment framework created with physician input that focuses on real-world clinical judgment rather than exam-style testing.

Access and rollout

ChatGPT Health is launching through a waitlist. Initial access will be limited to a small group of users on ChatGPT Free, Go, Plus, and Pro plans outside the UK, European Economic Area, and Switzerland.

Some features, including medical record integrations and certain app connections, are currently available in the United States only. Apple Health integration requires iOS. OpenAI has indicated that access and functionality will expand over time as the experience is refined.

What this means for UK healthcare brands and marketing

Although ChatGPT Health is not currently available in the UK, its introduction reflects a broader trend in how people access and interpret health information online.

As AI-driven tools become more commonly used to summarise information, prepare for appointments, or explore health-related data, expectations around clarity, consistency, and transparency in digital health information may continue to evolve.

For UK healthcare brands, this development may highlight the growing importance of:

• Clear, plain-language explanations of services and processes
• Consistent presentation of information across websites and digital platforms
• Transparency around information boundaries, privacy, and data use

These observations do not introduce new regulatory requirements and do not replace existing professional or legal standards. Any impact on UK healthcare communications will depend on future availability, regulation, and patterns of patient adoption over time.

Summary

ChatGPT Health introduces a dedicated, privacy-focused environment within ChatGPT for health and wellness conversations. By allowing users to securely connect health information and by incorporating extensive physician input, the experience is designed to support understanding and preparation for healthcare interactions, while clearly positioning itself as a support tool rather than a provider of medical care.

Frequently asked questions

Is ChatGPT Health available in the UK?
No. At launch, ChatGPT Health is available only to selected users outside the UK, the European Economic Area, and Switzerland.

Does ChatGPT Health provide medical advice or diagnoses?
No. OpenAI states that ChatGPT Health is not intended for diagnosis or treatment and is designed to support, not replace, care from healthcare professionals.

Are Health conversations used to train AI models?
According to OpenAI, conversations within ChatGPT Health are not used to train its foundation models.

Can users control or remove their health data?
Yes. Users can view or delete Health memories and disconnect medical records or apps at any time through settings.

Which types of data can be connected?
Users may connect certain medical records (US only) and wellness apps such as Apple Health, MyFitnessPal, and others, subject to availability and user permission.

Disclaimer

This article summarises information published by OpenAI on 7 January 2026. It is provided for general informational purposes only. ChatGPT Health is not a medical service and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or replace professional medical advice or clinical care. Availability, features, and eligibility may vary by region and may change over time. Individuals and organisations should rely on qualified healthcare and legal professionals when making medical or regulatory decisions.