Building Products for Health: The Weight of Getting It Right

The Stakes Are Different

In most consumer apps, a bug means frustration. In health applications, a bug could mean a missed medication reminder, incorrect health tracking, or worse—misinformation that affects health decisions.

This doesn't mean moving slowly or being paralyzed by fear. It means:

Regulation Adds Complexity

Health products often ask users to change long-standing habits. Eat differently. Move more. Track consistently. The research on behavior change is clear: information alone doesn't work. Products need to address motivation, ability, and triggers—not just deliver data.

Health data is among the most sensitive information people share. Every feature decision needs to consider: who has access? How is data stored? What happens if there's a breach? Users trust you with information they might not share with family.

Depending on what you're building, regulatory requirements shape product decisions. This isn't bureaucratic overhead—it's protection for users. Learning to work within these constraints while still innovating is part of the job.

What Makes It Worth It

When a product helps someone manage a chronic condition better, or provides support during a difficult health journey, or makes healthcare more accessible—that impact is tangible.

You're not optimizing for engagement metrics. You're building something that genuinely helps people live better.

The Takeaway

HealthTech product management requires comfort with complexity, respect for users' vulnerability, and patience with constraints. It's not the fastest-moving space. But for those who want their work to matter in concrete ways, there's nothing quite like it.