Emergencies can happen at any time and anywhere and on-demand doctor apps can save you from those. Suppose your beloved child gets a severe stomachache and it’s 3 am at night. You live in a place where an ambulance can arrive in roughly 30-40 minutes. What would you do? Where every second feels like an hour, waiting for half an hour can feel like a year.

To solve this issue, on-demand doctor or telemedicine apps have been invented. Right now, you can get a doctor’s consultation any time just sitting at your home. Statistics say that last year (2024) more than 116 million active users were using telemedicine apps globally. The fun fact is that the number of users is increasing significantly every single day.

This is a promising platform if you are planning to start your business in this marketplace. That’s why in this blog, you’ll get a step-by-step guide to developing an on-demand doctor app. Stick with us till the end. 

Let’s get started!

What Are On-Demand Doctor Apps?

On-demand doctor apps are mobile platforms that connect patients directly with healthcare providers or doctors anytime, anywhere. With these apps, people don’t have to go to hospitals or doctor’s chambers physically, unless it’s really a serious medical condition.

Over the past few years, there have been several telemedicine apps that are doing really well by handling millions of people all around the world. Let’s check some of them–

1. Teladoc

Teladoc stands as the industry leader with over 90 million members worldwide. Their success comes from offering 24/7 access to board-certified doctors across multiple specialties. They have the fastest response times – most patients connect with doctors in under 10 minutes.

2. Doximity

Doximity has grown into the largest professional medical network in the US, with over 80% of doctors using their platform. Their unique edge? They combine telemedicine with a social networking approach for healthcare professionals. Doctor on Demand makes healthcare surprisingly affordable. Their transparent pricing model starts at $75 per visit. Plus, they’ve partnered with major insurance providers to reduce out-of-pocket costs for patients.

3. Practo

Practo dominates the Asian market by offering a complete healthcare ecosystem. Beyond consultations, they include medicine delivery and health records management. Their success comes from understanding local healthcare challenges and solving multiple pain points in one platform.

Why Are They Gaining Popularity?

As you have seen the statistics and numbers in the intro section, actually, numbers don’t lie. On-demand doctor apps have really gotten popular over the past few years. The reasons behind this revolution are–

1. Technological Advancements

On-demand doctor apps are getting a serious upgrade. AI now helps doctors spot health issues faster and create personalized treatment plans. And thanks to 5G, video calls with your doctor are as clear as in-person visits.

2. The Pandemic Changed Everything

These apps had a significant impact during the Covid-19 pandemic. People could take doctor’s consultations without going outside. However, those days are gone, but the convenience didn’t. Both the patients and doctors are enjoying this technological uplift more than ever.

3. Significant Market Growth

The on-demand healthcare service is having massive growth all around the world. This popularity is skyrocketing with an estimated worth of US$78.84 billion by 2030. That’s a huge number, to be honest.

There are plenty of more reasons that will need an entire blog to finish. But you get the main reasons that accelerate this industry faster than ever.

How Does an On-Demand Doctor App Work?

Before starting the development of the on-demand doctor app, you need to understand how it works. Let me explain it in simplest way to you–

1. User Registration and Profile Setup

• Patients and doctors sign up using their email, phone number or social media accounts.
• Patients enter personal details, medical history and insurance information.
• Doctors provide their credentials, certifications and specialization for verification.

2. Searching and Booking an Appointment

• Patients can browse a list of available doctors, filter by specialty, rating or consultation fee.
• The app shows real-time availability for scheduling consultations.
• Patients book an appointment instantly or schedule it for a later time.

3. Virtual Consultation via Chat or Video Call

• The app offers multiple consultation modes: video calls, voice calls and in-app chat.
• The doctor evaluates symptoms, provides medical advice and may suggest further tests if needed.

4. E-Prescriptions and Medical Records Access

• After consultation, doctors can issue digital prescriptions accessible within the app.
• Patients can download or share medical records with other specialists if needed.

5. Secure Payment Processing

• Patients pay for consultations via integrated payment gateways (credit/debit cards, mobile wallets or insurance).
• The app generates invoices and sends payment confirmation.

6. Post-Consultation Support & Follow-Ups

• Patients receive automated reminders for follow-up visits.
• Some apps integrate AI-based health tracking to monitor patient conditions.
• Doctors can schedule repeat consultations for chronic conditions.

This is how the apps work. If you want to maintain this flow then you need to make the app super responsive and make it work like snaps. For that, you need to implement the key features properly. In the next section, we’ll be discussing that.

Key Features of a Successful On-Demand Doctor App

Now let’s see the key features that can make a huge impact on your users and obviously on your business. These are the must-have features and you must add this on your apps before releasing.

Patient End

• Easy Registration & Profile Management
• Doctor Search & Filter Options (specialty, ratings, availability)
• Instant & Scheduled Appointments
• Video, Audio & Chat Consultations
• E-Prescriptions & Digital Medical Records
• AI-Powered Symptom Checker
• In-App Payments & Insurance Integration
• Appointment Reminders & Notifications
• 24/7 Customer Support & Emergency Access

Doctor End

• Profile Verification & Specialization Tagging
• Appointment Management Dashboard
• EHR (Electronic Health Records) Access
• Prescription & Medical Note Generation
• Revenue Tracking & Payment Settlements
• Automated Patient Follow-Ups

Admin End

• Doctor & Patient Management System
• Revenue & Commission Management
• Analytics & Reporting Dashboard
• User Reviews & Feedback Monitoring
• HIPAA/GDPR Compliance Security Measures
• Marketing & Promotions Panel

Steps to Develop Your On-Demand Doctor App

It’s time to develop the apps in real-time. Building apps from scratch sounds overwhelming but you can do it effortlessly if you follow the steps that are described just below. 

Here are the steps to build the on-demand doctor apps:

Step 1: Market Research and Identifying Your Target Audience

• Research your competitors – what works in apps like Teladoc and Doctor on Demand?
• Survey potential users about their healthcare pain points.
• Define your unique value proposition (maybe you’ll focus on mental health or pediatrics?)
• Understand local healthcare regulations and compliance requirements.

Step 2: Choosing the Right Development Approach

• Native Apps (iOS/Android): Better performance but higher cost.
• Hybrid Apps: Launch faster on multiple platforms.
• Progressive Web Apps: Most budget-friendly option.
• Consider factors like user base, timeline and available resources.

Step 3: Designing the User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI)

• Create user flows that work for both tech-savvy teens and elderly patients.
• Use clear, readable fonts and high-contrast colors.
• Keep the interface clean and uncluttered.
• Add accessibility features for users with disabilities.

Step 4: Developing Core Features and Functionality First

• Start with the essentials.
• Use simple and clean codes.
• Leave room for future upgradeability.
• Try to minimize errors during development to minimize testing time and quicker launch.

Step 5: Testing and Quality Assurance

• Test across different devices and operating systems.
• Run security audits.
• Check HIPAA compliance.
• Get real user feedback through beta testing.
• Performance testing for video calls.

Step 6: Launching and Marketing Your App

• Partner with local healthcare providers.
• Use social media to showcase your app’s benefits.
• Offer special launch discounts.
• Get featured in healthcare forums and communities.
• Set up a referral program for early users.

This is the method that you can use to develop the telemedicine app. Remember, you can’t develop the absolute best app with tons of features in your first attempt. Add the MVP features first and add other features on regular updates.

Why Choose Nagorik Technologies?

We have explained the development process as simple as possible. However, if this information still feels overwhelming, don’t worry, we are here to help you. We, Nagorik Technologies, have been in this industry for more than a decade.

If you visit our portfolio, you’ll see that we have delivered more than 300 successful project handovers to our clients all over the world. So we can assure you that no matter how complex the project is, we can develop it for you.

The main perks of choosing us are–

• A dedicated project manager for the entire development journey.
• Specialized teams assigned exclusively to your project.
• Direct communication channels for real-time updates.

If you can develop the apps using the guide mentioned in this blog, that would be great. But we always welcome you if you choose us as your development partner.

Wrapping Up

On-demand doctor business is a promising sector to work in. There are a lot of scopes to make your presence in this industry. For that, you need some solid apps that can help you achieve that success. Follow this guide and develop your dream apps effortlessly.

If you find this blog helpful, feel free to share it. Also, you can reach out to us for any queries and help. We are always here to help you with everything we have.