ℹ️ This policy governs teleconsultation services offered through Hairsncares.com in accordance with the Telemedicine Practice Guidelines, India, 2020 issued by the Board of Governors in supersession of the Medical Council of India, and all subsequent amendments.
1. Consent to Teleconsultation
By booking and proceeding with a teleconsultation on Hairsncares, you provide explicit informed consent to:
- Receive medical advice via digital/remote means (video, audio, or chat) from a Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP)
- Understand that teleconsultation has inherent limitations compared to in-person clinical examination
- Share personal health information, photographs, and medical history with the consulting RMP for the purpose of the consultation
- Have your consultation session and associated data stored as per applicable retention and privacy laws
- Understand that the RMP retains the right to recommend in-person consultation where clinically necessary
Consent is obtained at booking and confirmed at the start of the consultation session. You may withdraw consent at any time before the consultation commences — see Consultation Terms for cancellation/refund terms.
2. Identity Verification
To ensure safe and appropriate care, Hairsncares requires identity verification for teleconsultation:
- Patient identity: Full name and date of birth are required. For minors, a parent/guardian must be present and their identity verified.
- Doctor identity: All RMPs on the platform are verified against NMC registration records at onboarding. Their registration number is disclosed to patients on request.
- User account: Mobile number OTP verification is required to confirm account identity before booking.
- Providing false identity information is a violation of these terms and may be reportable to authorities.
3. Scope of Teleconsultation
Hairsncares teleconsultations cover the following scope within dermatology and trichology:
- Hair loss assessment and diagnosis guidance (androgenetic alopecia, telogen effluvium, PCOS-related, thyroid-related, nutritional)
- Scalp condition evaluation (dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, scalp psoriasis)
- Hair care routine guidance and product recommendations
- Prescription of Schedule H medications (Minoxidil, Finasteride where appropriate) per Telemedicine Practice Guidelines
- Review and adjustment of existing treatment plans
- Referral recommendations for in-person assessment where indicated
The consultation scope is limited to the stated clinical area. Dermatologists on Hairsncares do not provide consultations for unrelated medical conditions outside trichology and hair-related dermatology.
4. When Physical Examination is Required
Teleconsultation has limitations. Your dermatologist will recommend an in-person consultation where:
- Trichoscopy or dermoscopy is required for diagnosis confirmation
- Scalp biopsy is clinically indicated
- The condition appears complex, inflammatory, or cannot be adequately assessed via photograph
- Systemic disease is suspected that requires physical examination and laboratory investigation
- The patient is a minor requiring in-person clinical assessment
- Treatment is not showing expected response after an adequate trial period
5. Emergency Exclusion
🚨 Hairsncares teleconsultation is NOT for medical emergencies. Per the Telemedicine Practice Guidelines India 2020, acute or emergency conditions must be referred to appropriate emergency services. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 112 or go to your nearest hospital immediately. Our dermatologists will not provide advice for life-threatening emergencies via the platform.
If during a consultation the RMP identifies an emergency, they will direct you to emergency services. The consultation may be terminated for this purpose.
6. Prescription Limitations
Prescriptions issued via Hairsncares teleconsultations are subject to the following limitations per Telemedicine Practice Guidelines India, 2020:
- First consultation:RMPs may prescribe medicines only from the approved "List B" (safe, low-risk medicines for telehealth). Schedule H prescriptions require established clinical information.
- Follow-up consultations: Broader prescribing scope is available where patient history is established on the platform.
- Schedule H1 and X: Not to be prescribed via teleconsultation per 2020 guidelines.
- All digital prescriptions are signed with the RMP's digital signature, registration number, date, and all mandatory fields per Rule 65 of Drugs & Cosmetics Rules.
- A prescription is at the sole clinical discretion of the RMP — it is not guaranteed as an outcome of every consultation.
See: Prescription Policy
7. Follow-up & Record Retention
- Consultation summaries and prescriptions are available in your Hairsncares account for 12 months post-consultation.
- Medical records are retained as per the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Rules and applicable state medical records regulations (typically 3–5 years for adult patients).
- You may request a copy of your consultation records via hairsncares@gmail.com.
- Follow-up consultations are recommended for chronic hair loss conditions, typically at 3-month intervals or as advised by your dermatologist.
8. Privacy & Data Protection
All patient data, consultation records, health information, and prescriptions are treated as sensitive personal data under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023:
- Encrypted storage with access limited to the treating RMP and authorised platform administrators
- Not shared with third parties except as required by law or with your explicit consent
- Teleconsultation sessions are not recorded unless explicit consent is obtained from both the patient and the RMP
- Scalp and hair photographs are used solely for clinical consultation purposes
See full data handling details: Privacy Policy