Through e-Sanjeevani, patients can consult doctors in participating government healthcare services without paying a consultation fee. Patients can speak to a doctor from home using an internet-enabled device or receive an assisted consultation at a participating Ayushman Arogya Mandir.
For home consultations, begin at the official e-Sanjeevani portal, open the Patient section, and register. The OPD you select may have set hours or accept only patients with an existing hospital appointment.
Key Highlights
- There is no charge for the government teleconsultation.
- New users can register using their mobile number or an ABHA account.
- Patients can upload reports and download an e-prescription.
- Some hospital services accept follow-up patients only.
- Emergencies require prompt in-person care.
What Is e-Sanjeevani And Who Provides The Consultations?
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare runs the service, developed by C-DAC. Its two routes address different situations: someone connecting independently from home and someone needing help at a local health facility.
| Route | How Patients Access Care |
| e-Sanjeevani OPD | Patients connect directly with an available healthcare provider using a smartphone or computer. |
| Assisted teleconsultation | A health worker at an Ayushman Arogya Mandir connects the patient with a doctor or specialist at a linked medical hub. |
The assisted route is relevant when operating the technology independently is difficult. Ask the nearby participating facility about its teleconsultation arrangements.
In an October 6, 2026 announcement, the Health Ministry reported that the platform crossed 50 crore cumulative consultations on September 15, across all 36 states and Union Territories. That total counts consultations, including repeat visits, rather than establishing 50 crore individual patients.
How To Register And Consult A Doctor Online
Keep your phone nearby and have previous prescriptions or reports ready. Delhi’s Health Department publishes a registration and consultation guide covering both browser and Android access.
- Open the Patient section: Visit the official portal or use the e-Sanjeevani Android application.
- Register or sign in: For your first visit, choose mobile-number or ABHA registration and follow the verification prompts.
- Describe the problem: Add your symptoms and attach previous reports or prescriptions relevant to the consultation.
- Select the OPD: Choose from the listed clinics and follow the instructions for joining the consultation.
- Save the prescription: If the doctor issues an e-prescription, download a copy before leaving the portal.
Test your device’s camera, microphone, and speakers before the call. You will need an internet connection and must allow camera and microphone access in the browser or app.
Tell the doctor how long you have had the symptoms and what medicines you have taken. If the available information is insufficient, the doctor may ask for further records before deciding on treatment.
OPD Timings And Specialist Access Vary
A national platform does not give every clinic the same timetable. State services publish their own schedules, while hospital-linked consultations may use appointments. Refer to the selected clinic’s current listing rather than assuming round-the-clock availability.
The Health Ministry’s October announcement confirmed specialist services through select departments at AIIMS Jodhpur, Jammu and Patna. Access conditions still need attention.
For example, AIIMS Patna’s published instructions describe doctor-booked follow-up appointments after a physical OPD visit. New patients must register physically first. Registered patients subsequently sign in, open their appointment, and join when the doctor becomes active.
DD News also explains the service’s free consultations and digital prescriptions in its official X update.
What Free Consultation Covers And When To Visit A Hospital
The free service covers the teleconsultation. An e-prescription does not itself promise medicine delivery or free investigations; pharmacy and laboratory arrangements must be confirmed separately. AIIMS Patna, for instance, excludes those services from its published teleconsultation scope.
There are clinical limits too:
- A physical examination may be necessary. The doctor decides whether the information available remotely is sufficient.
- Further tests may be requested. Treatment advice may depend on additional reports.
- Emergency care must not wait for an online appointment. Seek in-person assistance promptly when urgent care is needed.
India’s telemedicine guidelines prioritise in-person care during emergencies where that care is available. A referral after a video call is therefore a possible clinical outcome, not a failed consultation.
For a non-emergency consultation, open the official portal, review the available OPD, and keep your records ready before connecting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an ABHA account compulsory for registration??
Delhi’s official guide lists either an ABHA account or a mobile number for first-time registration. An ABHA account is therefore not the only registration route described.
Can I use e-Sanjeevani without a smartphone?
Yes. The service also works through a computer browser with internet, a camera, microphone, and speakers. Participating Ayushman Arogya Mandirs also offer consultations assisted by health workers.
Can doctors prescribe every medicine through a video call?
No. Telemedicine prescribing follows specific restrictions and the doctor’s clinical judgement. A request for a particular medicine does not guarantee that it will be prescribed remotely.
Can a new patient book any AIIMS specialist online?
Access is institution-specific. AIIMS Patna’s published service requires an initial physical registration and a doctor-arranged follow-up appointment; it does not accept first-time patients through that route.
Does the consultation total represent individual patients?
The reported milestone measures cumulative consultations. Someone using the service repeatedly can contribute several consultations, so the figure should not be presented as a unique-patient count.
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