In recent times, there has been an increase in the telemedicine industry. Many people opt for virtual doctor appointments, consultations, digital test reports, etc.
On Tuesday, the NMC issued an advisory about the usage of digital signatures for remote authentication of medical records.
Doctors in the country are advised to only put their digital signature on medical records after they have reviewed all relevant information, clinical history, and other material that is necessary for them to give an opinion.
Even when signing documents digitally, doctors remain fully responsible for all professional, ethical, and legal standards.
The advisory also mentioned that a doctor can only digitally authenticate a medical report or record that is generated by a hospital where the doctor is employed, empanelled, on contract or associated in any professional way.
The most important point in the advisory is that the digital signature, electronic signature, any kind of data associated with signature creation and other authentication mechanisms must remain only with the doctor and should not be shared or transferred to others consciously.
The advisory also mentioned that Indian healthcare establishments can consider remote opinions from foreign medical experts, provided the treating team follows all applicable laws.
It stated that, “The identity, professional qualifications, professional registration/licensure, date and nature of the consultation and the professional opinion provided by the foreign medical expert shall, to the extent applicable, be appropriately documented as part of the patient’s medical record.”
According to the advisory, unauthorised individuals are not allowed to practice medicine under the National Medical Commission Act, and it does not recognise foreign medical registrations, the advisory mentioned.
The advisory stated, “Rapid advancement of digital healthcare technologies has significantly transformed the manner in which healthcare services are delivered across the country. It is noted that divergent practices have evolved across healthcare establishments, resulting in uncertainty regarding the remote review and authentication of medical records.”
The advisory was issued to standardize the enforcement of existing laws, eliminate confusion, guarantee patient safety, maintain doctor accountability, and support the safe integration of digital healthcare tech.
(Rh/ARC)