How an online doctor consult works in South Africa

How an online doctor consult works in South Africa

• Health Near Me
• 18 Aug 2026

If you have never seen a doctor over video, the first booking can feel like a leap. Here is exactly what happens, so there are no surprises.

Before the consult

When you book, you answer a few short questions from your doctor — what you would like help with, current medication, allergies. This means the doctor starts your consult already knowing the basics, and more of your time goes to the problem itself. Your answers are encrypted and only your doctor sees them.

Your confirmation email carries three things: a secure video link, a calendar invite, and a manage link in case you need to move or cancel the booking. A reminder arrives before your time slot.

During the consult

At your booked time, open the video link on any device with a camera. There is no app to install and no account to create. The consult is a normal medical appointment — the doctor asks questions, looks at anything you can show on camera, and works out a plan with you.

A video consult works best when you:

• Find a quiet, private spot with decent light
• Have your ID and any medication boxes within reach
• Write down your main questions beforehand

After the consult

Anything the doctor issues — a script, sick note or referral letter — is emailed to you afterwards, along with an invoice you can submit to your medical aid. If the doctor feels you need an in-person examination, they will say so and point you in the right direction. That honesty is the point: video consults handle a great deal, and a good doctor knows when they should not.