Telemedicine in India: What the Practice Guidelines Mean for Your Clinic
The JenPulse team · 5 October 2026 · 3 min read
Video and phone consultations became part of everyday practice for many Indian doctors after 2020, when the Telemedicine Practice Guidelines were issued. Yet many clinics still aren't sure what the rules actually require. This guide summarises the key points in plain language.
It is a practical summary, not legal advice. Always check the current official guidelines published by the National Medical Commission and the Ministry of Health, as they can be updated.
Who can offer telemedicine
The guidelines allow registered medical practitioners to provide consultations by video, audio or text. The same professional and ethical standards apply as for an in-person visit. A teleconsultation is a real consultation, not an informal chat.
Doctors are expected to use their professional judgement on whether a case is suitable for telemedicine. If a physical examination is needed, the right step is to ask the patient to visit in person.
The basics for every teleconsultation
Identify both sides
The doctor should confirm the patient's identity (name, age, address, and other details as needed), and the patient should know who they are speaking to. The doctor's registration number should be shown on prescriptions and should be available to the patient.
Get consent
If the patient starts the teleconsultation, consent is considered implied. If the doctor or clinic initiates it, explicit consent should be recorded. A simple, recorded "yes" in the message thread or call notes is commonly used.
Choose the right mode
Video gives the most information, audio is quicker, and text suits simple follow-ups. The guidelines allow all three, but the doctor should switch to a richer mode, or an in-person visit, when the situation needs it.
First consultations versus follow-ups
The guidelines distinguish between:
- First consultations, where the doctor hasn't seen the patient before, or not for this condition
- Follow-up consultations, for the same condition with a patient the doctor has already seen in person or remotely
What can be prescribed depends on this, and on the mode used.
Prescribing: the medicine lists
The guidelines group medicines into lists that decide what can be prescribed remotely:
| List | What it covers | When it can be prescribed |
|---|---|---|
| List O | Common over-the-counter medicines | Any mode of teleconsultation |
| List A | Relatively safe medicines with low potential for abuse | First consultation by video, or follow-up |
| List B | Medicines added to treat an existing condition | Follow-up consultations |
| Prohibited | Medicines with high potential for abuse or harm | Cannot be prescribed through telemedicine |
Check the official guidelines for the exact medicines in each list and any later amendments. Prescriptions issued remotely should follow the same format as in-person prescriptions and include the doctor's registration number.
Keep records
Doctors should keep records of teleconsultations: the patient's details, the consultation notes, any reports reviewed and the prescription issued. Store them as carefully as any other medical record. Keeping them inside your clinic software, linked to the patient, is far easier than searching through a phone's chat history later.
Privacy and security
Patient data shared during a teleconsultation is sensitive health information. Use a reliable video platform, avoid sharing reports through personal accounts where possible, and make sure only the right staff can access the records. India's data protection law applies to this information just as it does to in-person records.
Making telemedicine work in a busy clinic
- Set specific time slots for teleconsultations so they don't interrupt in-person patients
- Send the link and instructions in advance, including how to test camera and microphone
- Keep the consultation fee clear before the call, and collect payment the same way each time
- Have a plan for when the call fails: switch to audio, or reschedule
Telehealth in JenPulse
JenPulse includes video visits booked from the patient's record, so each visit sits alongside the patient's in-person visits and prescriptions. You can see the workflow in the live demo. Whatever software you use, the guidelines above are what matter most: identify, get consent, prescribe within the rules, and keep good records.