Getting a consultation with a doctor over the phone or ordering medications online — all of this is telemedicine. The law on it was adopted in 2018, but the service became truly in demand during the pandemic With telemedicine, you can: get an online consultation with a doctor by phone or correspondence. The doctor will listen to complaints but will not be able to make a diagnosis; monitor health using sensors that attach to the body after a doctor's examination; buy medicines from an online pharmacy with courier delivery; book an appointment with a doctor or for tests. Telemedicine services can be used in state hospitals with compulsory health insurance (OMS). To do this, you need to visit the "Gostelemed" website and find doctors in your region who conduct online consultations. Authorization on the website is done through the "Gosuslugi" portal account, and information about consultations is displayed in the personal account. In addition, telemedicine is available in private clinics, including under the voluntary health insurance program (DMS). Advantages and Disadvantages of Telemedicine Advantages include saving time and communicating with a specialist regardless of their location. Additionally, this service is useful for people with disabilities and those who are afraid to visit crowded places due to the risk of infection. Disadvantages include that not all doctors are skilled in working online and diagnosing diseases remotely. Technical problems, including hacker attacks, can also occur during consultations. Starting from 2024, all Russians with OMS automatically received digital medical profiles. This is a unified database with information about the patient's health. Health Minister Mikhail Murashko stated that this measure will ensure an individual approach to each person.