Analysis Of Telemedicine Guidelines

The Board of Governors, appointed by the government in supersession of Medical Council of India (“ Board of Governors ”) under the sanction of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, published a notification dated March 25, 2020 (“ Amendment ”) to amend the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations 2002 (“ Code of Conduct ”) in order to regulate Telemedicine in India. Such Telemedicine consultation can be provided to any Patient via services such as telephone, video, devices connected over LAN, WAN, Internet, mobile or landline phones, chat platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger etc. RMPs who wish to practice Telemedicine will have to complete a mandatory online course made available by the BOG within 3 years of it being notified. If the condition of the Patient requires emergency care, the RMP should advice for first aid or any other immediate relief along with guidance. RMP has to provide a photo, scan, digital copy of signed prescription to the Patient via e-mail or any messaging platform. All information shared by the Patient shall be confidential and the RMP is required to undertake reasonable degree of care in usage of platforms for maintaining suchconfidentiality. RMP is required to log all details and maintain full record of the Patient with respect to any documentation or information used for the consult and the prescriptions. Going by the procedures and rules provided in the Guidelines along with the Code of Conduct, the Telemedicine practice in India has been finally accorded a legal status. Patients no longer have to travel to the hospitals and wait in long queues to consult a doctor for smallest of problems. This is especially beneficial considering the situation throughout India due to COVID- 19 which has rendered many people unable to access healthcare properly.