Telemedicine guidelines made part of IMC regulations

NEW DELHI: In a move to prevent cross infection by reducing footfall in hospitals, the government has notified telemedicine guidelines as part of Indian Medical Council (IMC) Regulation, enabling registered medical practitioners to provide consultation and write prescriptions based on telephone conversation.
“Consultation through Telemedicine by the Registered Medical Practitioner under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 shall be permissible in accordance with the Telemedicine Practice Guidelines …,” a notification by the Medical Council of India Board of Governors (BoG) said.
The notification amended the IMC (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002 to include the telemedicine guidelines which were issued by the BoG along with NITI Aayog on March 25.
“The regulatory or legal framework will ensure patient-doctor interaction through telemedicine and provide a standard approach, boundaries as well as imperative to make healthcare services accessible. On the other hand, it will assure medical practitioners that telemedicine consultations are legal,” says Dr VK Paul, member, NITI Aayog and head of BoG.
The release of the regulation – which were in the pipeline for sometime – is seen as a timely intervention in the context of COVID-19 when access of healthcare services are limited in most areas with hospitals trying to decongest spaces to prevent cross-infection and ensure safety of healthcare workers.
“Disasters and pandemics pose unique challenges to providing healthcare. Though telemedicine will not solve them all, it is well suited for scenarios in which medical practitioners can evaluate and manage patients. A telemedicine visit can be conducted without exposing staff to viruses/infections in the times of such outbreaks,” the guidelines for practicing telemedicines said.
It added, telemedicine practice can prevent the transmissRead More – Source

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