Is online psychiatry legal in India?
Yes. India's Telemedicine Practice Guidelines, issued in 2020, allow registered medical practitioners to consult patients by video, phone or message. A few medicines, including those controlled under Schedule X and the NDPS Act, cannot be prescribed through telemedicine.
Last updated 2 November 2026
What the rules allow
- Only a registered medical practitioner can give a telemedicine consultation.
- The doctor may use any suitable mode, such as video, phone or message, and must decide whether that mode fits your situation.
- Prescribing without a diagnosis, or at least a provisional diagnosis, is professional misconduct.
What about medicines
The guidelines sort medicines into lists. List O medicines are safe to prescribe. List A medicines can be prescribed at a first consultation only if it is by video, and renewed at follow-up. List B medicines can be added at follow-up, alongside medicines already prescribed in person for the same condition.
Medicines with a high potential for abuse, including those under Schedule X and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, are on a prohibited list and cannot be prescribed through telemedicine. Some people need to be seen in person, and a good clinician will tell you when that is the case.
How to check an online service
- Ask for the doctor's name and registration number, and check it with the state medical council or the National Medical Commission.
- Look for a clear explanation of how your information is kept private.
- Be wary of anyone who offers medicine without asking about your history.
How Mindly Health follows them
Every Mindly Health consultation is conducted in line with the Telemedicine Practice Guidelines, including consultations with patients who join from outside India.
This is general information
This page summarises public guidelines and is not legal advice. The rules can change, so check the latest version when it matters.
What to do next
To know your rights as a patient, read the Mental Healthcare Act and patient rights. To see how an online visit works, read your first online consultation or talk to a psychiatrist online. Mindly sees people online in every Indian city, including Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Hyderabad. See online psychiatrist in India.
How to start
- Call or message us. Reach us on +91 90352 54779 or WhatsApp. Tell us your language and a convenient time.
- Free pre-consultation call. Our team takes your history and prepares a report for your clinician, so you do not repeat yourself.
- Video session. You meet your allotted clinician online, from home or wherever you feel comfortable.
- Your plan. The clinician explains what they find and the next steps. You decide together.
Book your free pre-consultation call
Your privacy and confidentiality. What you share with Mindly Health stays between you and your care team. Your conversations, reports and messages are treated as confidential and shared only with the team members involved in your care, apart from the limited cases where the law requires it or someone's safety is at serious risk. Read our Privacy Policy and your rights under the Mental Healthcare Act.
Common questions
Can a psychiatrist prescribe medicine online in India?
In many cases, yes, within the Telemedicine Practice Guidelines. Medicines controlled under Schedule X and the NDPS Act cannot be prescribed through telemedicine, and a clinician may ask to see you in person.
Is an online prescription valid?
The guidelines say prescriptions must follow the medical ethics regulations and drug laws. If you are unsure, ask the doctor to explain, or check their registration.
Related
- Talk to a psychiatrist online
- Your first online consultation
- Privacy Policy
- Your rights under the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017
- How common are mental health problems in India?
- Does online therapy work?
Sources
Mindly Health is not an emergency service. If someone is in immediate danger, call 112 or go to the nearest hospital. For free support at any hour, call Tele-MANAS on 14416.