Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part G (2025)

Telemedicine and telepharmacy are revolutionizing healthcare access in India, particularly for the 65% of its 1.4 billion citizens living in rural areas with limited access to medical infrastructure. This descriptive study examines the structure, impact and challenges of six public and private initiatives, eSanjeevani, Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), Tata 1mg, PharmEasy, Apollo TeleHealth and Smile Foundation’s e-Arogya, from 2020 to 2025, using a mixed-methods approach. Data was sourced from official government dashboards, corporate reports and NGO field updates and analysed thematically using a framework cantered on accessibility, affordability, infrastructure and digital inclusion. Quantitative and qualitative analyses revealed that eSanjeevani delivered over 324 million consultations by July 2025, 85% of which served rural users via 154,576 AB-HWCs. ABDM enabled 720 million digital health IDs, with 62% linked to rural populations and streamlined health record interoperability. Private players such as Tata 1mg and PharmEasy serviced 32% rural users, while Apollo TeleHealth established 520 centres and e-Arogya conducted 1.4 million free consultations in remote regions. Outcome metrics showed an average rural patient savings of INR 2,000-3,500 per avoided hospital visit, INR 1,600 crore in annual systemic savings and a 35% improvement in chronic care adherence. However, significant challenges persist, including 58% digital illiteracy, 38% lack of reliable 4G coverage and 32% compliance burden due to regulatory fragmentation in teleprescriptions and data protection. The findings highlight the transformative potential of digital health when supported by inclusive infrastructure, standardized governance and public-private partnerships. To fully realize India’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and SDG-3 objectives by 2030, the study recommends expansion of rural broadband (via BharatNet), targeted digital literacy drives and creation of interoperable, transparent telehealth ecosystems.