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Telehealth
Telehealth in South Africa
Healthcare delivered remotely - what that actually means, and where its limits are.
Telehealth is the delivery of healthcare using communications technology instead of an in-person visit. In practice that usually means a consultation conducted over a call or a video link, with the same history-taking and clinical reasoning that would happen in a consulting room.
In South Africa remote consultation moved from the margins to the mainstream quickly, and the Health Professions Council of South Africa has published guidance on how practitioners should conduct it. The professional and legal obligations are the same as for any consultation: registration, confidentiality, record-keeping and scope of practice all apply unchanged.
What differs is the absence of a physical examination. That is the real boundary, and it is what determines whether a given concern can be handled remotely or needs to be seen.
What telehealth handles well
- Common conditions and everyday illness
- Follow-up consultations
- Repeat and chronic medication review
- Questions about medication
- Mental health consultations
- Sexual health and contraception
- Weight and lifestyle management
- Test results and next steps
- Specialist referral
- Laboratory test requests
Where it stops
Anything requiring hands-on examination, imaging or urgent intervention is not suited to remote consultation. Nor is an emergency - in an emergency, go to your nearest emergency department or call your local emergency services immediately.
A responsible telehealth service says so plainly and refers you on. Every consultation includes that judgement, and being told you need to be seen in person is a normal outcome rather than a failure of the process.
Services
Popular with patients in South Africa
Online Doctor Consultation
Speak to a doctor without travelling to a waiting room. Consultations happen remotely, wherever you are in South Africa.
Read moreOnline Prescriptions
A prescription follows an assessment. It is never issued on request alone.
Read moreMental Health
A first conversation is often the hardest part. It does not have to happen in a waiting room.
Read moreHow It Works
From first message to next step
We arrange a time
We confirm a time for a consultation that fits around your day.
The consultation
The healthcare professional takes your history, assesses the concern and discusses the appropriate next step with you.
What happens next
A prescription, certificate, test request or referral — whichever is clinically appropriate for your situation.
Questions
Common questions
Is telehealth legal in South Africa?
Yes. Remote consultation is an accepted mode of practice, and the HPCSA has published guidance for practitioners on conducting it.
Is a telehealth consultation as good as seeing a doctor in person?
For many concerns it is equivalent. For anything needing physical examination or imaging it is not, and in those cases you are referred for in-person care.
Do the same confidentiality rules apply?
Yes. The same professional and legal obligations apply as to an in-person consultation.
Can telehealth be used in an emergency?
No. In an emergency, go to your nearest emergency department or call your local emergency services immediately.
Speak to a doctor from South Africa
Send a WhatsApp message and we will connect you with the right healthcare professional for your situation.