‘Telemedicine can be defined as the delivery of healthcare services by all categories of healthcare professionals using information and communication technologies for the exchange of valid information for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease and injuries, research and evaluation, and for the continuing education of healthcare providers, all in the interest of advancing the health of individuals and their communities. Such a wide definition includes many health care activities and a large number of applications that have been tried, with variable degrees of interaction between all the players in the healthcare system,” - says a report - Telemedicine: A New Frontier for Effective Healthcare Services - published in https://www.researchgate.net/
According to the guidelines released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, any registered medical practitioner is entitled to provide telemedicine or online consultation to patients from any part of India. Also, anyone in India taking telemedicine consultation from doctors will be able to claim the expenses under a health insurance policy, if their medical policy covers for outpatient department (OPD) expenses. Moreover, if telemedicine consultations are the part of pre or post hospitalisation expenses, the customers can get the costs covered under the health insurance policy.
Like the rest of the world, the coronavirus induced pandemic has given a major boost to online medical consultation in India also, as fear of virus infection has led the majority of the populace to opt for digital healthcare tools. Telemedicine or online doctor consultation services through call, video or chat helped patients connect with registered and renowned doctors during the pandemic, as they wanted to avoid visiting clinics, hospitals or outpatient departments (OPDs).
Media reports also reveal that online medical consultations have increased 500% since March, 2020, with five crore Indians opting for online healthcare amid the covid-19 pandemic. According to RedSeer Consulting, the digital health market grew to $4.5 billion this financial year and online platforms will continue to play a pivotal role in the new healthcare system. In June 2020, Practo found that 80% of all telemedicine users were first-time consumers, and 44% of the tele or online consultations were from non-metro cities.
The health ministry under GoI has also emphasised the advantages of telemedicine services during the lockdown, leading to a further rise in usage of online consultation apps and medicine delivery services. Doctors across the world also feel that online consultation is armed with multiple applications, and ensures optimal as well as virtual care. Factors like high definition transmission and clarity to provide rapid, accurate and real time consultation from certified professionals make online consultation all the more viable.
In reality as well, more and more Indians are seen to be availing such consultations for conditions like General Physician, gynaecologyand dermatology. That said, many are also making queries around other specialities includingonline gynaecologist consultation, psychiatrist consultation, ENT, mental health, pediatrics, gastroenterology and ophthalmology. While online and telemedicine is fast rising in metro cities, the Tier-II and Tier-III cities are not far behind. This has led to a rise in demand for services from online healthcare startups who are witnessing a unique surge in demand as they go online with their healthcare delivery, incentivise telemedicine, encourage online medicine bookings and use chatbots to answer patient queries.
However, as healthcare goes high-tech and digital, you should be wary of the challenges and be careful, to avoid abuse and misuse. Be watchful while using virtual healthcare tools and services, and by all means adhere to protocols, guidelines and standards set by the government bodies and other associated authorities.
Here are the things to keep in mind while availing online doctor consultations –
1. Make sure that the online platforms are certified and legitimate.
2. Make queries on doctors’ identification including name and qualification.
3. Make it a point to check that registration numbers of doctors on the platform, e-mail, and e-prescription.
4. Double check that the e-prescription has been signed by the doctor. You can request the consulting doctor to scan and send the prescription to your mail or WhatsApp.
5. Do not forget to ask for a consultation receipt or invoice.
At DocGenie, we believe that access to good, reliable healthcare is a fundamental human right and we want to do our part in making that a reality. Ours is a carefully curated platform with best online doctors, providing location agnostic high quality healthcare. Most of our doctors have been in practice for over 25 years, while others are second generation physicians, with a family legacy of selfless service and innovation. Unlike most other online doctor consultation platforms, DocGenie is created by a group of doctors along with the global expertise of the management team in technology and public reach. We facilitate access to good quality healthcare, while ensuring complete privacy and data safety and budget friendly solutions.
DocGenie is an online telemedicine platform that provides you with quality healthcare from the comfort of your own space. On DocGenie, you will find a select few, highly-qualified doctors, unlike other online platforms with thousands of doctors. So you can be assured of receiving excellent, honest, personalized care from the best doctors.
