In the COVID-19 pandemic, the doctors are playing an essential role in coping with the current situation. Due to coronavirus, consulting doctors is not as easy as earlier. But luckily Healthcare startups are reducing the gap between doctors, patients, and hospitals.
The smart rise in technology has been a boon for healthcare. Also if you feel too sick to get out of bed, you can get an appointment. There are some of the best online doctor consultation apps to make consulting doctors convenient and easy.
These apps have made communication between the doctor and patient easy. These apps for online doctor consultation are very useful for small emergencies, first aid, etc. They provide various services like booking appointments, selling medicine online, and operating a commercialized unit of the venture. Healthcare startups are improving patients’ treatment and doctor development.
List of Best Online Doctor Consultation Apps in India
Practo is a Bangalore-based health tech startup launched in 2007 by Shashank and Abhinav Lal. It is one of the best online consultation apps and it has expanded to over 36 cities now and in Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Brazil. It is an online health service platform that assists patients to fix appointments with doctors, and a software platform where digital health records of patients can be stored. It is one of the best healthcare startups in India.
It also helps patients to contact any doctor in India to make wise health care decisions. Practo has over 1 lac doctor profiles from all around India and Singapore catering to 25 million patients every year. Practo also provides an online medicine delivery service, where one can upload a photo of a prescription and the app detects and delivers medicines.
It has evolved into a one-stop destination for appointments, consultations, health records, insurance, and ordering medicines online.
2. Lybrate
Lybrate Website
The Delhi-based startup helps patients find doctors near their location, and connect with them instantly. Founded by Saurabh Arora and Rahul Narang in 2013, Lybrate helps patients to communicate with doctors on a video call, it also lets you take an appointment. There are more than 1,50,000 professionals which help you with Lybrate.
It is one of the startups funded by Ratan tata who has great experience in starting and expanding small businesses to a greater extent. Lybrate lab+ is an online lab testing service that allows a patient sample to be collected right from their home, with results later shared online.
3. Portea
Portea Website
Portea is a Bengaluru-based online doctor consultation app that provides doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists for home visits, it also facilitates lab tests at home and medical equipment rentals. It is available in 21 cities in India now. Doctors and medical professionals can monitor patients who can’t travel to hospitals. The patient data is uploaded using smartphones to an EMR platform, which uses predictive analytics to understand health trends inpatient.
Online Doctor Consultation Growth
4. Docttocare
Docttocare Website
Docttocare is one of the best online doctor consultation apps in India founded by Sugandha, it launched its services in 2018 at NASSCOM Bangalore. Docttocare enables users from non-metro cities to access and book an appointment with doctors and hospitals located in major cities.
Docttocare app helps the users through the entire process of identifying the right doctors/hospitals and scheduling appointments on the desired date. It provides services like instant online ambulance booking, tracking the availability of blood groups with the hospital, search compare, evaluation, and sharing health records with the doctor.
Doctalk is a Mumbai- based healthcare software application founded by Akshat Goenka and Vamsee Chamakura in 2016. Doctalk provides users with a platform where they can get solutions by enabling them to communicate with their doctors over the app. It allows them to safely save all the medical reports and files on the cloud which they can carry anywhere digitally.
Doctalk is the best app for doctor consultation. This application does not connect patients with new doctors, they just streamline the process post-consultation, a patient can subscribe to a doctor and then easily share files and past prescriptions to ensure that the doctor can quickly access the data. Doctors too can upload and share any reports that they might have. Doctalk has doctors across specialties in Mumbai and Hyderabad.
6. EUOR Health
EUOR Health is a Kolkata-based company founded by Sudip Mukherjee and Chandrima Mukherjee in 2013. EURO stands for ‘Everything U Obviously Require’. EUOR Health is an online marketplace for all Healthcare services where people can search, identify, book, and buy their required health care services with just one click or even by giving one call.
They provide various healthcare services like diagnostics, doctor’s appointments, hospital admission, pathology, instant doctor’s consultation, preventive health care, rehabilitation, and second opinions, EUOR Health gives a unique card, EUOR Health card which provides a unique Health Account no. to a consumer family under which they can have benefits of Health insurance, Accidental insurance, home health care support, and health services/ products.
7. Murgency
MUrgency is an online doctor consultation app that connects people who need emergency responses with qualified medical, safety, rescue, and assistance professionals. Users can call for emergency medical response and assistance with just one tap on the mobile app.
So far the app has responded to over 3,00,000 emergencies, helping patients during the critical hour. It is a chain of 1298 ambulances that provide emergency healthcare services in Mumbai, Bihar, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Kerala. The company was shut down due to insufficient funds.
Online consultations are cost-effective and also save time as you don’t have to visit a doctor for an appointment. Also, many doctor consultations apps are available 24×7.
How does an online consultation work?
We do know the right way to doonline consultations: asynchronously, where a patient fills out a structured online questionnaire that the doctor checks at a later date; and synchronously, where both parties talk to each other at the same time, using video technology such as Skype.
What is a consultation with a doctor?
A consultation is a rendering of advice or professional opinion, followed by a report of findings to the referring physician. A referral on the other hand is simply a request to assume care of a patient.
In an era, where everything is available at the click of a button it is no surprise that even a specialist doctor or a clinical examination could be done online. Online doctor consultation is a coveted field in India and is able to offer services like telehealth, telemedicine, telecare, and digital health care services. According to the survey conducted by Accenture in 2017, over 70% of the consumers are willing to experience health care services virtually, while 20% have already experienced virtual healthcare.
Many startup companies are looking to make it in the industry as it is currently rising. The consumer’s expectations for a convenient healthcare system are evolving while the healthcare industry is continuously striving to meet people’s needs with the help of technology. The telemedicine market in India is expected to reach $5.4 Billion by 2025 with a CAGR of 31%.
The online doctor consultation allows the dissemination of specialized knowledge among the medical community through advanced networks, reviews, emergency medical consultations during an epidemic or crisis among others. According to a report by Practo, online doctor consultations have increased 500% since March 2020, as five crore Indians are now accessing healthcare online amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Telemedicine Industry is expected to create more than $5.4 billion market opportunities by 2025. Practo, DocPrime, mFine, CallHealth, and Lybrate are some of the leading startups in India’s telemedicine market. The COVID 19 outbreak has created many challenges in traditional healthcare systems, as citizens have not been able to consult with the doctors physically.
This situation has led the government to change the regulations around remote delivery of healthcare services and allow telemedicine via video, audio, or text. Telemedicine will not only help these startups address the spread of Coronavirus but also improve access to healthcare in rural areas. Innovative technologies are allowing health organizations to enhance access and reduce the burden on hospitals through real-time consultation with doctors through online services.
top doctor consultation sites in India
Telemedicine will reduce the time of consultations and improve the quality of healthcare services in rural areas, removing many infrastructural challenges. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends every country to have a ratio of 1:1000 doctor to patient ratio, India only has one governmental doctor for every 1,139 people.
According to a report, India has a shortage of 600 thousand doctors and 2 million nurses. This leads to limited face-to-face consultations among patients. Secondly, India also has a shortage of hospital beds, which makes hospitalization difficult and there needs to be better infrastructure and facilities whereas with the help of online consultations the healthcare sector can reduce its problems.
Online consultation has become popular in India because it is easier and safer to access healthcare via call, video, chat with doctors, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The health ministry has urged people to take advantage of telemedicine services during the lockdown. And since then the usage of online consultation apps and medicine delivery services has been on the rise.
The pandemic has encouraged people to use the platform and consult a certified medical practitioner rather than resorting to self-medication. Online consultations are known for specialties such as Gynecology and Dermatology, while other specialties like mental health, pediatrics, ENT, ophthalmology, and gastroenterology are all well-known departments.
The growth of telemedicine in India
The telemedicine sector is steadily increasing not only across metropolitan cities but also in smaller cities like Hoshiarpur, Karnal, and Durgapur. The online doctor consultation platform mFine is seeing demand from states which has a low doctor-to-patient ratio since lockdown. The app has also seen new user signups and consultations from users in states such as Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh where the doctor-patient ratio is the lowest in the country.
Many other healthcare startups are seeing an unprecedented surge in demand as they shift healthcare delivery onto the internet, promote telemedicine, encourage online medicine bookings and use chatbots to answer patient queries. The support rendered by the national and state governments, their subsidiary concerns, and allies such as the ISRO have contributed a great deal to facilitate the development of telemedicine as a well-recognized field.
India has seen a tremendous increase in demand for telemedicine for healthcare services. According to Statista, the industry might have touched $280 billion by the end of 2020. Though the healthcare sector is seeing a giant leap in providing services to consumers, it has still not been able to expand its market in rural areas. Around 75% of the rural population is struggling with insufficient infrastructure and technological awareness. This is the reason why online consultation might help overcome this issue.
Bringing quality healthcare services to the rural areas of the country.
Benefits the people of rural areas in bringing down the disparity in healthcare offerings between the rural and urban areas.
Provides access to qualified healthcare providers, specialized consultation, accurate prognosis, timely diagnosis, and effective course of treatment.
The people of urban areas, who have access to world-class hospitals and treatment facilities but don’t have the time can seek help by online consultations.
The patients can have real-time interactions through video conferencing solutions, or store and forward models which can capture patient and disease-related information through dictation, photos, videos, radiology, etc.
The patients can get the benefits of an actual visit to the doctor without having to do so.
Not just consultation and treatment, but many other services can be fulfilled through telemedicine, which brings together the best of both worlds – medicine and telecommunication.
It helps in the dissemination of specialized knowledge among the medical community through advanced technology and peer-to-peer reviews.
It’s very useful for emergency medical consultations in times of an epidemic or crisis.
How to provide a great online consultation experience
Target Audience of Telemedicine Industry
People who are willing to try telemedicine.
Application developers and network operators.
Third-party suppliers and healthcare service providers.
With the growing attention for telemedicine services, countries around the world are developing a regulatory framework for the industry. While India is already one of the top 10 countries in telemedicine marketing the world, the adoption of a regulatory framework will help the segment grow rapidly.
Tattvan Mishra, founder, and CEO of Tattvan E-Clinics said that “India has seen considerable growth in the telemedicine sector however, the growth was not rapid due to the lack of proper guidelines and regulations. In the coming years, I expect a high investment from the private sector in the field of telemedicine. I think the telemedicine industry has a bright future and may become a multi-billion industry in the next 3-5 years.”
Online consultation platforms have supported the healthcare needs of Indians at a time of lockdown. Saurabh Arora, the founder and CEO of Lybrate in a press statement said that “It is the need of the hour to contain the spread of the virus. The healthcare burden on the country is gigantic around this time and platforms like ours can definitely help share it. People can consult doctors on Lybrate across specialties and so on other platforms, letting hospitals tend to more serious patients”.
Besides telemedicine, other health-tech segments such as online pharmacy, medical technology, and medical devices have also called for increased regulatory clarity so that startups can focus on the model rather than tweaking their operations. When it comes to the online consultation market, the COVID 19 crisis could bring about a lot of clarity and growth just like the fintech sector got a push in India after the demonetization in 2016.
FAQ’s
1. What is an online doctor consultation or online medical consultation?
When you visit a doctor about your health-related issues through an audio/video/chat, it is called an online doctor consultation or online medical consultation. This is an alternative for you when you cannot visit a doctor physically at the clinic or hospital.
2. How do I consult a doctor online now?
Book an online consultation either on the website or mobile app. Look out for the ‘Find a Doctor’ button on the homepage of the website/app, select the specialty of your problem or type the name of the doctor directly. Once the doctor of your specialty is selected, you can click on the “Consult Now’ button to start with the online consultation.
3. Do you provide online doctor consultation for emergencies?
No, it is not recommended. It is advisable to contact emergency services during emergencies. Emergency medical services are available round-the-clock which can be accessed by calling 112 or clicking the ‘Emergency’ tab on the homepage of the respective website/app.
4. Where is my prescription for the online doctor consultation?
Prescription for your online consult can be found in the Records/History section. By clicking on this tab, you will be able to view/download your prescription.
5. Is it safe to consult online?
Online consultation is absolutely safe and private, where customer information and health data is the most important thing that is kept private.
Numerous technological innovations and advancement has made the world a smaller place. Irrespective of type of business, online services is booming. The demand of online service has taken over the healthcare industry as well. Online doctor consultation is rising popularity and growing with high speed after Covid Pandemic. There has been 500% increase in online doctor consultations in India in 2020.
Practo is one of those online doctor consultation platform which has revolutionized the healthcare industry. Practo enables consumers to find the best doctors, book appointments, and consultations for better health care decisons and treatment. The bangalore based healthcare platforms has gained tremendous popularity. Here are insights of Practo’s Business model, its revenue model, and more to know about Practo.
Practo is an Indian based company that is now established in about 15 countries. It is an application that works as a bridge between doctors and patients and is mainly focused on booking interactions with doctors. It was founded by 2 Indian B.Tech students, Shashank ND and Abhinav Lal. They aimed to come up with a way to save or keep reports and other medical prescriptions. Their idea was then put into action and they came up with an online platform where the patients can interact with the best online doctors, book appointments and so on.
Services Provided by Practo
Their major value proposition for patients was to make online healthcare search easier. The application must be able to help patients look for various medical help like doctors, hospitals, clinics, laboratories, check-up and scan bookings and so on. This must be done through the app or website and without any issue. They should be able to get a virtual doctor on demand.
The next plan was Practo Plus, which is a subscription-based membership. This is to provide perfect 24/7 care.
Practo not just helps book appointments but also consult a doctor online. This is a cost and time-saving attribute in the app. In this case, the communication can be through audio call, video call and also image sharing through the app. This can help the doctors diagnose and give necessary medical advice.
Just like Google drive helps us save details and records for future use, Practo drive helps patients store the necessary medical records like test results, prescriptions, schedules, etc. This is highly secure and safe.
Business Model of Practo
Practo Logo
The first thing that a business has to do is to figure out the major activities and value propositions and make a perfect, working business model. Practo, being a common platform for patients and doctors, they had to make sure there was proper value provided to both sides.
Why Should Doctors Use Practo?
Practo competitors
Practo helps the doctors get more patients and grow their practice online. They can hence maintain a better relationship with the patients and also chat with them whenever necessary. A prescription can also be uploaded through the app. Follow-ups and other notifications can also be given by the doctors to the patients. They can also publish health-related articles and tips. Practo makes the entire system easier and efficient.
Practo provides a complete tool for clinic management for doctors which helps in generating invoices, reminders, storage of bills and prescriptions, etc. On the whole, the online visibility of the clinic and the doctor grows with the use of Practo.
Practo’s Customer Segments
Practo has segmented their customers into 3. Which are:
Practo’s customer segment
Key resources for Practo
The major resources that they use are the website, the app, their staffs and manpower and Information technology.
Their major activities are:
Marketing and advertising, through which they promote their product and services. With the growing use of social media, they use those platforms to promote Practo.
This, being a technology-based app, their another major activity is to develop an easy to use software.
They also had to bring in and enhance the network between patients, doctors, labs, clinics and so on.
They also have the perfect customer relationship management strategies. They provide 24/7 customer service through mails, chat and also phone calls and their automated services, like notification system and SMS services have helped them maintain customer relationships.
Any company thinks of how to increase revenues and hence generate more profits. Practo also has its way to make huge revenue. We know that Practo has a few products and services and using this they generate the revenue.
They initially started by taking a certain percentage of money for every booking that takes place. As they expanded, they found more opportunities to get better revenues.
Practo charges the doctors and hospitals some money for getting listed in the app or the website. This also gives them some revenue. They are now expanding their domain and are now connecting bigger hospitals, labs and pharmacies and take commissions from all these. This is their basic revenue model. Over this, there are a few other ways by which they generate revenue.
Acquisitions of Practo
They get revenues through their acquisitions. Practo has acquired 4 companies.
QikWell: It is an online appointment booking software
Over the years, Practo has helped doctors reach a lot of patients and also helped them practice medicine.
Just like there are search results on search engines, Practo has a search result. Doctors need to get on top of the list to be able to do more online consultations and hence earn more. Practo Profile sells premium listing and for this, the doctors have to pay some money. This is a part of their revenue.
The next way of generating revenue is through Practo reach wherein, Practo provides ad spaces on their website and app. It is available in various sizes and the payment depends on various factors. Displaying ads on their website also gives them good revenue as we know that Practo has a lot of users.
There is another division in Practo which is called as Practo Ray. This helps the doctors Manage the hospital or clinic. It is a PMS (Practice Management Software) for the doctors. For doctors to use this, they need to pay a fee, monthly. This is the largest source of revenue for Practo.
Next comes Practo Plus. It is a subscription-based yearly healthcare plan for patients. It offers unlimited online doctor consultation and Practo gets some revenue from this too.
Practo earns from medical deliveries too. Now that they have tie-ups with labs and pharmacies, they get some commission for bookings and also from delivering medicines to the patients. They also make the sale of medicines to drug stores and chemists.
The main reason for Practo to be able to attract the customers is because they can cover the right audience. They know that there is no big point in covering famous doctors as they would have already established themselves and would not pay much for Practo and so, they started by approaching new doctors and clinics who will need to get patients. Also, there are not many competitors in the field as Practo has already attracted most doctors and patients and it is well established.
FAQs
What is the revenue of Practo?
Practo has recorded a revenue of Rs 124.3 crore for the financial year ended March 31, 2019.
How does Practo work?
Practo offers a secure and encrypted platform for patients to connect with doctors online to interact at their own convenience.
What is the valuation of Practo?
Practo valuation stands at $904 Million (April, 2021).
With the lockdowns restrictions brought over by the Covid Pandemic, most economic activities were paused, millions lost their job and many industries faced difficulties. But there were also some industries like Online gaming, Online grocery, Fintech, Telemedicine, Ed tech, online media that were boosted due to the pandemic. Another such industry that increased two fold is the e-pharmacy or online pharmacy industry.
The e-pharmacy sector in India has grown because of the increased accessibility during a pandemic and many upcoming players like NetMeds, 1MG, EasyMedico and MedLife, Apollo Pharmacy. In 2019, the global e-pharmacy market is estimated to be more than $69.7 billion and is expected to grow 17% to more than $244 billion in 2027.
Which is why 2021 is the year for the industry, as the e-pharmacy market in India is estimated to be over $512 million in 2018 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 63% to reach $3,657 million by 2022. The sector is also attracting many investors as over 70% users are willing to use e-pharmacy post the pandemic, according to RedSeer survey.
In 2020, Covid 19 has pushed many consumers towards buying their medicines online. A report also shows that over 60 to 70% of the medicines that are ordered through e-pharma platforms are from chronic patients as it more affordable and accessible for them. The growth of e-pharmacy in India is evident due to the positive experience coupled with stronger adoption among low-income households.
Nowadays, many online industries are growing as people in the country are adapting to e-commerce rapidly with mobile first consumer behavior and improved digital payments infrastructure. In developed countries of North America and Europe, e-pharmacy is a flourishing market and is also structured, where the medicines are prescribed by doctors and tracked through barcoding to ensure systematic supply.
In India however, we have over eight lakh pharmacies, with pharmacies available every few kilometers. The e-pharmacies and healthcare companies have only recently grown in India because of Covid 19, improved Internet reach and smartphone penetration. The Indian e-pharmacy industry is some of well-known names in the market are Netmeds, EasyMedico and MedLife.
The growth of e-pharmacy in India
They are many startups that have also come up in the industry such as 1mg, Practo and Myra, even big retail stores like Apollo pharmacy have introduced their e-pharmacy segment.
In Indian pharmaceutical market is the third largest in terms of volume and 13th largest in terms of value. According to EY, the online pharmacy market in India is estimated to reach $2.7 billion by 2023 from $360 million which it is currently at.
In India, the retail pharma market is divided into 3 broad segments which are generic drugs, over the counter (OTC) drugs and patented products. Some of the country’s largest conglomerates and multinational e-commerce companies are looking to invest and get a foothold in this sector. For example Amazon has recently invested over $100 million in the largest Indian pharmacy chain Apollo Pharmacy.
In 2020, Reliance Retail invested Rs 620 crore to get a majority stake in Netmeds which is a chennai based startup. Tata group also acquired a a major stake in 1mg, while LGT Group and CDPQ the Canandian pension fund acquired Medlife in 2020. Even Pharmeasy is backed by the Singapore Temasek Holdings along with TPG a private equity firm from US.
Reasons behind the growth of the E-pharmacy Industry in India
Internet reach and smartphone penetration
In 2021, India has a wider internet reach because of the affordable prices of the smartphones and deployment of 4G provided by telecom providers like Reliance Jio. According to a report the number of internet users in India is said to reach 600 million by 2025. The government has also launched Digital India Program which is helping in improving broadband connectivity across the country.
Government initiatives
The Digital India Program was started by the government to digitally connect every corner of India including the rural areas and remote villages with high speed internet. The aim of this campaign was to empower citizens to gain knowledge and use the government services easily and to make people interact with the government.
Along with that, the Jan Aushadhi Program is introduced in order to ensure that the general population has access to quality and affordable medicines.
Top pharma companies in India
The increased preference towards online shopping
In the times of global pandemic, online shopping has gained a lot of popularity. This is because it is more convenient to get products delivered at home, while abiding the lockdown restrictions. Online shopping for essentials and medicines is growing at a fast pace.
Growing awareness about fake drugs
E-pharmacy has more stringent tracking mechanism when it comes to eliminating middlemen and the risk of counterfeit and sub-standard drugs.
The change in the disease patterns in India
In the last 25 years, the focus has shifted from communicable to non-communicable diseases. The disease pattern has shifted towards chronic diseases which has also lead to the increase in the demand for daily medicines. E-pharmacies provide medicines to the chronic disease patients at a lower cost than compared to retail pharmacies.
Better healthcare financial services
There has been a steady growth in the Indian financial industry, there are now better options for health insurance policy, life insurance policy, family and retirement plans, cashless claims and ease of accessing them online. These services have increased the healthcare spending which, in turn, has benefitted the online pharmaceutical industry.
The increase in domestic demand
There is an increase in the domestic demand because of growth of in capita income, changes in lifestyle due to urbanization and rise in literacy levels. Which is why the demand for advanced medical treatment is expected to increase along with the demand for pharmaceutical products.
E-pharmacy is more convenient than compared to retail pharmacy stores especially in the time of a global pandemic as the people can order their medicines from the comfort of their homes through any gadget that supports internet. This is also helpful for the elderly and patients that may not be in a condition to go find a pharmacy store.
Increased accessibility
Some medicines are hard to find in retail pharmacy stores, which is why e-pharmacy makes it more accessible to find those medicines. Retail Pharmacy only have limited stock and are expensive making it difficult for the people from the rural areas to buy medicines. E-pharmacies make it more accessible for the rural population to buy medicines.
Benefits of E-pharmacy
Lower cost
The biggest advantage of e-pharmacy is that it provides medicines at a lower cost because it has small working capital, less overhead costs, increasing margins.
E-pharmacy provides improved information
E-pharmacies usually provide value added information to consumers such as the side effects, medicine reminders, information on cheaper substitutes. It also links it to medical resources like universities, government agencies and other health association.
Authentic medicines
All medicine purchases through e-pharmacy platforms are stored digitally, making it easy to track the supply chain. This reduces the risk of fake medicines, drug abuse, and even self-medication.
The e-pharmacy market in the country is unregulated, this is because of the absence of a clear regulatory framework from India’s policymakers. The industry must be regulated because it involves the health of people.
The investors who invest in the e-pharmacy companies are also concerned about the lack of regulations in the sector. This is why a set of regulations for e-pharmacy must be implemented at the earliest.
Lack of technical Infrastructure
The key factor behind the success of any industry is a strong technical infrastructure. Even though smartphone and internet penetration rates are increasing, the rural population still don’t know about e-pharmacy and how to use it.
No awareness in the rural areas
There is huge gap between the rural population and online services like e-pharmacy. This is because people in the rural areas and remote villages lack internet connectivity and still don’t have gadgets that can access internet leading to poor connectivity.
E-pharmacies is unfavorable in the times of emergency
The one disadvantage of e-pharmacy is that when medicines are needed in emergency retail pharmacies, as e-pharmacies take more time from ordering to the delivery of the medicines. Hence why e-pharmacies are more suited for pre-planned purchases only.
Netmeds is currently one of the biggest players in the e-pharmacy industry. It provides a huge variety of medicines, healthcare products and drugs. It is one of the most popular Indian website to buy medicines online.
The company was founded in 2015 and now has a pan India presence, offering prescription, over the counter drugs and wellness products. The customers can set up their subscription for the medicines to be delivered every month and buy healthcare products such as skincare, family care, and baby care among others.
Practo
Practo is one of the most reliable online medical stores. It also has a huge catalog of medicines and healthcare products. The app offers its services to more than 100 cities and also connects millions of patients with thousands of healthcare providers around the world.
The company was founded in 2009 and has over 1,00,000 listed doctors from 310 towns and cities. The app also offers its customers to have an automated prescription refill option, allows them to check their medicine order and reorder what they want.
Top e-pharmacy websites in India
1mg
1mg is the country’s leading digital consumer healthcare platform. This app offers its delivery services to more than 1000 cities across the country. Its customers can order medicines and health products through the website and get it delivered at home from licensed pharmacies.
It also provides accurate and trustworthy information on medicines. The best part about the app is that the customers can enter the names of the medicines needed and get cheaper alternatives with the same compound. The app also offers health tips according to the medicines you order.
PharmEasy
PharmEasy is a well-known health tech startup that offers services such as online doctor consultation, medicine deliveries and diagnostic test sample collection. PharmaEasy offers more than 1 lakh products and even delivers it within 24 to 48 hours across 1.2k plus cities all across India. The app allows schedules reminders monthly and even cash on delivery services.
Apollo Pharmacy
Apollo Pharmacy offers more than 5000 products in various categories online and is also accredited an international quality certification. Apollo pharmacy over 3500 plus offline pharmacy outlets across the country.
The advantage of ordering medicines from Apollo is that the customers can order it 24/7 and get the medicines delivered on time and at their doorstep.
Medlife
Medlife is another popular online pharmacy in India that was founded in 2014. Medlife is easier for ordering medicines as the customers can just upload their prescription, confirm it on call and get the medicines delivered at their doorstep. If the customer does not have a prescription, they can also consult a Medlife doctor.
Netmeds, Medlife, Apollo Pharmacy, PharmEasy, and Practo are the top 6 e-pharmacy companies in India.
What are the challenges faced by the E-pharmacy Industry in India?
E-pharmacies is unfavorable in the times of emergency, No awareness in the rural areas, Lack of technical Infrastructure and Legal challenges are some of the challenges faced by the E-pharmacy Industry in India.
What are the benefits of E-pharmacy in India?
Convenience for consumers, Increased accessibility, Lower cost, Improved information e-pharmacy and Authentic medicines are the benefits of E-pharmacy in India.
What are the reasons behind the growth of the E-pharmacy Industry in India?
Internet reach and smartphone penetration, Government initiatives, The increased preference towards online shopping, Growing awareness about fake drugs, The change in the disease patterns in India, Better healthcare financial services and are the reasons behind the growth of the E-pharmacy Industry in India.
How big is the e-pharmacy industry in India?
In 2021, the e-pharmacy market in India is estimated to be over $512 million in 2018 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 63% to reach $3,657 million by 2022.
Conclusion
With the current situation of the global pandemic and the changing seasons, online pharmacies are the best option to buy your medicines. As the people will not have break the lockdown restrictions and go out to buy medicines from the local medical store.
Online pharmacies are more convenient as the medicines are delivered safely and at the comfort of your home. E-pharmacy is cheaper than compared to the retail pharmacies and it’s also offers discounts and cashback. The industry is said to increase two-fold in coming years and become one of the biggest industries.
Chayanika Goswami
