The Indian healthcare system turns to digital health: eSanjeevaniOPD as a national telemedicine service

Healthcare infrastructure in the emerging economies is largely concentrated in their urban areas, and the burgeoning rural population is usually deprived of quality medical care. Telemedicine systems are expected to bridge this gap. This case study documents telemedicine’s significance and allows students to examine India’s national patient-to-doctor telemedicine service, eSanjeevaniOPD. The portal provides free and contactless consultation by a government doctor using video calls. COVID-19 hastened the adoption of eSanjeevaniOPD in the country, but its post-covid future would largely depend on feature innovation, architecture development, and digital strategies. With a total of three million teleconsultations in one year, eSanjeevaniOPD is one of the world’s largest digital healthcare delivery systems. This case provides insight into Indian health infrastructure, summarizes the journey of eSanjeevaniOPD, and raises questions on the digital transformation of the Indian healthcare delivery system.