Getting the Doctor Closer on Line

Context: Medical Council of India’s (MCI) telemedicine practice guidelines are encouraging health delivery system to use the Covid-19 crisis as a pivot for the mass adoption of telemedicine.

Telemedicine Practice Guidelines

• Extends doctor-patient relationship over constraints of distance and access through diverse telecommunication channels.
•  Recognise, regulate and encourage the use of telemedicine by physician-patient dyad.

• • Shields physicians from legal liability and opens a legal gateway for teleconsultation.

• Telemedicine is not a replacement for in-person consultation instead of a complementary one.

• Patients will be informed about the use and limitations of telemedicine.

Relevance of Telemedicine

• Boost primary health care by connecting mid-level providers in Health and Wellness Centres (HWC) with doctors in secondary and tertiary level institutions via telemedicine. 
• Digitally connect primary care doctors to district hospitals and medical colleges for specialist advice.
• Reduced cost of healthcare delivery, especially for individuals in remote areas (eSanjeevani platform).

Conclusion: Digital healthcare reform initiatives in a progressive legal framework will pave the way for accessible, flexible, and cheaper healthcare delivery systems.