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eSanjeevani (National Telemedicine Se… — Govt Scheme for UPSC | Vaidra
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eSanjeevani (National Telemedicine Service)

Ministry of Health and Family WelfareactiveHealthLaunched: 2019-11-20

About the Scheme

eSanjeevani is India's national telemedicine platform — world's largest telemedicine initiative in primary healthcare. 44.9 crore+ teleconsultations (Feb 17, 2026). Two variants: eSanjeevani HWC (doctor-to-doctor at Health and Wellness Centres) and eSanjeevani OPD (patient-to-doctor via app). 2.20 lakh+ registered providers. Developed by C-DAC. Integrated with ABDM and Ayushman Bharat.

Target Beneficiaries: 1.4 billion Indians; rural, tribal, remote area patients; 44.9 crore consultations completed

Official Website →

✦Key Features

  • 44.9 crore+ teleconsultations (Feb 17, 2026) — world largest telemedicine initiative
  • 2.20 lakh+ registered providers; 750+ districts covered; all 36 states and UTs
  • eSanjeevani HWC: AB-HWC doctor connects to specialist (doctor-to-doctor)
  • eSanjeevani OPD: patient directly consults doctor via app (patient-to-doctor)
  • AI-enabled diagnostic recommendations in 12 million consultations (Apr 2023 to Nov 2025)
  • Developed by C-DAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing)
  • Integrated with ABDM (ABHA health ID) and Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission

✓Eligibility Criteria

  • All citizens of India seeking medical consultation from their homes are eligible for the eSanjeevaniOPD service.
  • Registered medical practitioners and specialists from recognized medical institutions act as service providers.
  • Health and Wellness Centers (HWCs) act as spokes in the doctor-to-doctor (eSanjeevaniAB-HWC) model.
  • Paramedical staff and Community Health Officers (CHOs) are eligible to facilitate consultations for rural patients.

★Benefits

  • Free-of-cost access to quality medical consultations with certified doctors and specialists regardless of location.
  • Digital generation of e-prescriptions which can be used to purchase medicines or undergo lab tests.
  • Significant reduction in travel costs and time for patients living in remote or underserved areas.
  • Minimization of the risk of cross-infection by providing medical advice without physical hospital visits.

▶Application Process

  • The user registers on the eSanjeevaniOPD portal or mobile app using a valid mobile number.
  • A One-Time Password (OTP) is sent for verification, after which the user creates a patient profile.
  • The user enters the virtual waiting room and waits for an available doctor to initiate the video consultation.
  • After the consultation, the user can download the digitally signed e-prescription for further use.

₹ Budget Allocation

170

Funding Ratio (Centre:State): 100% Central Government Funded (Central Sector Component under Ayushman Bharat)

Exam Relevance

GS Paper: GS2

Prelims Relevance9%
Mains Relevance9%

Syllabus Tags

HealthTelemedicineDigital HealthTechnologyGS2GS3

Historical Context

Launched in November 2019 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, it was initially intended to connect HWCs with specialists. The OPD variant was launched in April 2020 due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

Exclusion Criteria

  • Cases requiring emergency physical intervention or surgery
  • Patients without access to basic digital infrastructure (unless through HWC)
  • Medicines under Schedule X and other restricted drugs cannot be prescribed via tele-consultation

Sub-Schemes

eSanjeevaniHWC

Doctor-to-Doctor telemedicine platform for Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres.

eSanjeevaniOPD

Patient-to-Doctor telemedicine platform enabling stay-at-home consultations.

Challenges

  • Internet connectivity issues in 'Shadow Areas' or hilly terrains
  • Resistance from traditional practitioners and patients' preference for physical consultation
  • Limited diagnostic integration within the telemedicine platform
  • Language barriers and technological complexity for non-literate users

Reforms & Recommendations

  • Integration with IoT-based diagnostic kits at the HWC level
  • Mandatory rural service for specialists to include 1 hour of eSanjeevani consultation
  • Developing offline-first features for areas with low bandwidth

Performance Statistics

Metric

12.18 Crore

Source: PIB/MoHFW

Metric

4 Lakh+

Source: MoHFW

Critical Analysis

eSanjeevani has effectively democratized healthcare by bridging the rural-urban specialist divide, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its 'Hub and Spoke' model optimizes the existing medical workforce, yet it faces critical hurdles such as the 'digital divide' in remote hinterlands and the lack of physical examination capabilities which can lead to misdiagnosis. While it reduces Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) by saving travel costs, the efficacy is highly dependent on high-speed internet penetration and digital literacy among the elderly and rural populations.

SDG Linkages

SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure)SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

Constitutional Backing

Article 21 (Right to Health as part of Right to Life)Article 47 (Duty of the State to raise the level of nutrition and standard of living and to improve public health)

Technology Used

Cloud ComputingVideo ConferencingDigital PrescriptionsC-DAC indigenously developed software

Success Stories

State-wide Implementation Lead

Key Takeaways

  • World's largest government-led telemedicine program
  • Two models: eSanjeevani AB-HWC (Doctor-to-Doctor) and eSanjeevaniOPD (Patient-to-Doctor)
  • Reduces time and cost for patients in rural areas

Probable Questions

eSanjeevani is not just a technological tool but a social equalizer in Indian healthcare. Comment.

MediumHigh

Mains Answer Fodder

eSanjeevani exemplifies 'Digital Health' as a public good. It aligns with the principle of 'Antyodaya' in healthcare. It can be cited in answers regarding: 1. Use of ICT in governance. 2. Strengthening Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCs). 3. Achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). 4. Reducing the burden on tertiary care hospitals like AIIMS.

Convergence Schemes

  • Ayushman Bharat-HWC
  • BharatNet
  • Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM)

Sector Tags

HealthDigital InfrastructureRural Development