Checklist
To prepare for a teleconsultation with a specialist in India, send your reports and images ahead, test your video connection, have your passport or ID ready and write your questions down. Ask the doctor to confirm their name and registration. Remember that a video call cannot replace a physical examination, and the specialist may need to see you in person.
Many international patients first meet an Indian specialist on a video call, often to discuss reports before deciding to travel. India’s Telemedicine Practice Guidelines, 2020, set rules for registered doctors consulting by video, audio or text. They state that consultations cannot be anonymous and that the doctor should identify themselves and confirm the patient’s identity. The same guidelines note that they do not provide for consultations outside India’s jurisdiction. Ask the hospital how it handles calls with patients abroad and what you will receive in writing afterwards.
What should you send before the call?
- A short summary of your condition and the question you want answered.
- Recent reports, in date order, as clear PDF scans.
- Imaging reports and a secure link to the images in DICOM format.
- A list of current medicines, doses and allergies.
- Your doctor’s referral letter if you have one.
- Your full name, date of birth and passport number as they should appear in records.
How should you set up the call?
- Use a laptop or tablet on a stand rather than a hand-held phone if possible.
- Test the app, camera, microphone and internet connection a day before.
- Choose a quiet, well-lit room with privacy.
- Confirm the time in both time zones and save it in your calendar.
- Keep a phone number to call if the video connection drops.
- Have your ID document nearby in case the team asks to see it.
Who should join the call?
- The patient, if well enough, so the doctor can talk to them directly.
- A family member to take notes.
- An interpreter if you are not fully comfortable in English, arranged in advance.
- Your doctor at home, if they would like to join.
- Your IndiaMedica case manager, if you would like support.
What should you ask and collect?
- What do you think is happening, based on the reports you have seen?
- What further tests would you need before advising on treatment?
- Is an in-person examination needed before a decision can be made?
- Can you send a written summary of this consultation?
- Who do I contact with follow-up questions, and how?
- Ask the doctor to state their full name, qualification and medical registration number.
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What can a teleconsultation not do?
The Telemedicine Practice Guidelines state that telemedicine cannot replace a physical examination. They also restrict which medicines can be prescribed remotely. A video consultation is useful for reviewing reports and planning. The final treatment decision usually follows an in-person assessment by the treating specialist.
Check the doctor’s registration
Under the Indian guidelines a doctor consulting by telemedicine should display their registration number. You can check registration on the National Medical Commission’s Indian Medical Register. See our guide to verifying a doctor’s registration.
Questions people ask
Can an Indian doctor prescribe medicines by video for a patient abroad?
India’s telemedicine guidelines limit what can be prescribed remotely and state that they do not provide for consultations outside India’s jurisdiction. Prescription rules in your own country also apply. Ask your doctor at home about any medicine suggested on a call.
Is a teleconsultation the same as a second opinion?
It can be part of one. A second opinion usually involves a specialist reviewing your full reports and images and giving a written view. A teleconsultation adds a conversation. Ask whether you will receive a written opinion and what it will cover.
Sources
- Telemedicine Practice Guidelines, 2020 (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare)
- National Medical Commission – Indian Medical Register
General information, not medical or legal advice. Rules change: confirm with the official source. How we write and check.