THE Department of Health has spent more than £2.5m advertising on Google in the past year.
Using the internet search engine’s pay-per-click “AdWord” service, the department spent £2,720,457.11 between February 1, 2009 and January 31 this year, Health Minister Phil Hope said.
It had paid for 21,939 “active search terms”, but said setting out what had been chosen could put the department at a “future competitive disadvantage”.
Google AdWord allows clients to select relevant search terms which will bring up an advert for their services. The clients are charged if internet users click on the ad.
