Blinkit’s new instant doctor call feature, designed to offer quick access to prescription medicines, has triggered widespread concern among medical professionals in India. What appears to be a convenient add-on to the company’s rapid delivery model may instead pose serious risks to patient safety and contribute to the country’s growing problem of antibiotic resistance.
India has one of the world’s highest rates of antibiotic misuse, and the World Health Organization identifies antimicrobial resistance as one of the top global health threats.
Blinkit also has other healthcare services including on call ambulances, which cater to basic life support service, including oxygen, AEDs and Paramedics.
A user, Neha Moolchandani, recently shared her experience online. She added prescription-only drugs to her Blinkit cart, including an antibiotic, and was quickly connected to a doctor over a phone call. The call lasted barely a minute, and the doctor approved the same medicines she had already selected without asking about her symptoms, medical history or any supporting test results.
India Today tested the system and saw the same flaws. Reporters ordered a prescription-only antibiotic, and the app connected them to a doctor who identified themselves only as Dr. Aiman. The doctor issued a prescription but refused to share their full name, registration number or place of practice. This lack of transparency added to growing concerns about the credibility of the consultation.
Under India’s telemedicine guidelines, remote consultations are allowed, but prescribing antibiotics or antifungals without a detailed history, examination, or supporting diagnostic information violates standard care expectations.
The process prioritizes approval over assessment, turning the consultation into a box-ticking exercise rather than a medical evaluation.
Clinicians across specialties have criticized the service. Hepatologist Cyriac Abby Philips, known widely as The Liver Doc, issued a warning on social media.
On X he wrote:
“This is pretty much a stupid service, not to mention dangerous. A physician has diagnosed fungal infection through a phone call and given a prescription for antibiotics for a viral cold. This looks like a paid promotion for this useless service. If you need a proper diagnosis and treatment, please visit a doctor."
Several doctors pointed out that prescribing antibiotics for mild viral illnesses is not only medically incorrect but also accelerates the spread of drug resistance. They noted that when platforms approve antibiotics for common colds, nasal congestion or non-bacterial infections, they create a false sense of legitimacy around misuse.
Another doctor, Dr. SareeDon (@DrPyaricetamoI), criticized the casual prescribing even more bluntly, writing:
“Azithromycin for nasal congestion and cold. How easy it is to spread antibiotic resistance and create superbugs. Kudos Blinkit.” His comments reflect the widespread worry among clinicians that the platform’s model normalizes antibiotic misuse."
Telemedicine rules in India restrict prescribing antibiotics or antifungals through remote consultations except in defined cases. Blinkit’s model appears to bypass these safeguards.
Key Digital Healthcare Platforms Operating in India
Several companies now offer telemedicine services across India, making it easier for people to reach healthcare from wherever they are. Platforms like Tata 1mg, Practo, MediBuddy and MFine connect users to doctors, book lab tests and even deliver medicines, while Onsurity and digital health reports from firms like Mordor Intelligence show how quickly this space has grown.
Together, these services demonstrate how telemedicine can improve access, cut travel time and ease pressure on clinics when used responsibly, but doctors still warn that convenience should never replace proper medical judgment, a reminder that safe care must remain at the center of digital healthcare’s rapid growth.
References:
1. Onsurity. “Telemedicine Apps in India.” Onsurity, accessed December 9, 2025. https://www.onsurity.com/blog/telemedicine-apps-in-india/.
2. ScienceDirect. “Drug Resistance.” ScienceDirect, accessed December 9, 2025. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/immunology-and-microbiology/drug-resistance
3. World Health Organization. “Antimicrobial resistance.” Accessed December 10, 2025. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antimicrobial-resistance.
(Rh/ARC/MSM)