Breaking: Amazon India Enters Healthtech Segment with the Launch of Teleconsultation Service

To access the teleconsultation services, users need to navigate to the "Amazon Clinic" tab within their Amazon shopping app.

Amazon India has forayed into India’s burgeoning healthtech segment with the launch of its teleconsultation services. The service is presently available in beta version on the Amazon shopping app.

The new feature allows users to book doctor consultations directly through the Amazon app. It offers a video consultation option, enabling patients to connect with a doctor in as little as five minutes.

Additionally, the service includes a seven-day follow-up period with unlimited chat access, ensuring continuous care and communication.

Further, the tech giant claims enhanced privacy measures, assuring that patient medical records remain anonymized to protect user confidentiality.

Currently, this feature is exclusive to beta app users in India, with a broader rollout anticipated soon.

To access the teleconsultation services, users need to navigate to the "Amazon Clinic" tab within their Amazon shopping app.

The service covers a range of medical conditions, including fever, allergies, PCOS, hypertension, thyroid issues, and pregnancy, among others.

Days back, Amazon merged its Amazon Clinic telehealth service with its One Medical primary care platform on its amazon.com platform. This move comes over a year after the retail giant acquired One Medical for $3.9 billion, aiming to enhance its healthcare offerings. The integration aimed to simplify the patient experience by offering more care options and reducing the steps needed to access care, globally.

Indian Telemedicine Market

Teleconsultations in India have surged following the COVID-19 crisis. Between March 2020 and May 2020, online healthcare consultations reportedly increased by 500%.

Approximately 50 million Indians accessed healthcare services online during this period, averaging two online doctor consultations per month per user.

In 2022, India’s telemedicine market was valued at $1.10 billion. A 2023 report by the Technology, Information Forecasting and Assessment Council (TIFAC) predicts significant growth in the telemedicine market.

The projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) between 2020 and 2025 is 31%, leading to an estimated market size of $5.5 billion.

Given the rapid growth of the telemedicine business in India, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) formulated the Telemedicine Practice Guidelines (TPG) in March 2020.

These guidelines aim to facilitate telemedicine services by establishing clear norms for registered medical practitioners (RMPs). They further address critical aspects such as physician-patient relationships, informed consent, data privacy, and security, ensuring safe and effective telehealth practices, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Furthermore, the MoHFW developed the National Telemedicine Service, eSanjeevani, offering free OPD services to all citizens. This application enables telemedicine consultations between citizens and doctors, as well as doctor-to-doctor consultations, enhancing the accessibility and efficiency of healthcare services across the nation.