By Dr. Siddharth Rao, MD, LLB (Medico-Legal Advisor) | Published on 2026-10-24
The Telemedicine Practice Guidelines issued under the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act govern remote medical consultations in India. Registered Medical Practitioners (RMPs) may prescribe List O medicines (OTC, paracetamol, ORS) and List A medicines (first-line refills, common antibiotics) via video or audio. List B medicines require prior in-person consultation within the past 6 months. RMPs are strictly prohibited from prescribing Schedule X narcotics and psychotropics via telemedicine.
Medico-legal guide to practicing telemedicine in India: NMC guidelines, List O/A/B drug classifications, prohibited medicines, and patient consent documentation.
Doctors can prescribe List O (over-the-counter and basic health products) and List A (refills and safe first-line therapies). List B medications require prior in-person examination within six months.
Schedule X psychotropic drugs, narcotics, hypnotics, and habit-forming drugs governed by the NDPS Act are strictly prohibited from being prescribed via remote consultations.
Yes. If the patient initiates the consultation, consent is implied. If the doctor initiates the call or telemedicine session, explicit documented consent (written, audio, or email) is mandatory.
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