Open 24 hours, every day of the year
A virtual doctor consultation lets you see a Ralmed GP by video call, for concerns that do not need an examination room, from home or work.
At a glance
The service
A virtual doctor consultation is a GP appointment held over a video call, in which the doctor talks with you, sees you on screen and decides on treatment.
It suits concerns a doctor can assess by listening, asking questions and looking: a rash, an infection, a follow-up on medication or a question about a test result.
If the doctor needs to examine you, they will say so. Ralmed's practice at 89 Impala Road, Kelvin View, Sandton is open 24 hours for an in-person visit.
Who it is for
A virtual doctor consultation saves a trip when an examination is not needed. These are the patients who use it most.
People who cannot leave work for an appointment but need a doctor's advice or a sick note.
Parents who want a doctor's opinion on a child without packing the family into the car.
Patients who find travelling difficult, and the people who care for them.
Reviews of treatment, medication or test results that do not need an examination.
What it covers
Many everyday concerns can be handled by video. Some cannot, and the doctor will always tell you when you need to be seen in person.
| Situation | Suitable by video? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Colds, flu and sore throats | Often | The doctor can assess them from what you describe and what they see on screen. |
| Skin rashes and minor infections | Often | A clear camera picture helps the doctor see the problem. |
| Test results and follow-ups | Often | Talking through results rarely needs an examination. |
| Sick notes | Where appropriate | Issued when the consultation gives the doctor enough to go on. |
| Prescriptions | Sometimes | The doctor decides whether it is safe to prescribe without seeing you in person. |
| Anything that needs an examination | No | The doctor will ask you to come to the practice, which is open 24 hours. |
| Chest pain, breathing difficulty or serious injury | No | These are emergencies. Call 086 1725 633 or 10177 for an ambulance. |
How it works
01
Call 086 1725 633 or send a WhatsApp to book. [INSERT: the hours when video consultations can be booked]
02
Find a quiet, private place with a phone or computer that has a camera and a stable connection.
03
At the booked time the doctor calls you by video. [INSERT: which video app is used and how the link is sent]
04
The doctor issues a sick note, prescription or referral where appropriate, or asks you to come in.
Want to see a doctor without travelling? Book a video consultation.
GPs from a 24-hour practice. The doctors you see by video work at our Sandton practice, which never closes.
The same standards as in person. Sick notes and referrals are issued in the same way as at the practice, where the consultation supports them.
An examination room when you need one. If the doctor needs to see you, the 24-hour practice is open for an in-person visit.
Part of a full medical service. Ralmed also runs a laboratory and an ambulance service from the same Sandton base.
Cost
The fee for a virtual doctor consultation is set by the practice, and your medical aid may cover it, depending on your scheme and plan.
These are the things that affect what you pay:
Ask about the fee when you book. [INSERT: the video consultation fee, how payment is taken, and which medical aid schemes cover it]
Your options
A virtual doctor consultation is convenient, but it is not the right choice for everything. This table shows when each option fits.
| Option | Suits | What the doctor can do | Things to weigh up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video consultation | Everyday concerns and follow-ups that do not need an examination | Assess, advise, and issue sick notes, prescriptions or referrals where appropriate | No physical examination and no tests during the call |
| Visit to the 24-hour practice | Anything that needs an examination, tests or a procedure | Examine you, take samples for the laboratory and treat minor injuries | You travel to Kelvin View, Sandton |
| Hospital emergency unit | Serious illness and injury | Emergency treatment, scans and admission | For emergencies; call an ambulance if you cannot travel safely |
Get started
Call or send a WhatsApp and tell us you would like a virtual doctor consultation. We will book a time and explain how the call works.
The practice
89 Impala Road, Kelvin View, Sandton
Open 24 hours for in-person visits.
Video consultations suit patients who could come in to the practice if the doctor needs to examine them in person.
See all our doctors and clinical services, including the 24-hour GP practice.
Questions
Call 086 1725 633 or send a WhatsApp to book a virtual doctor consultation with a Ralmed GP. Tell us briefly why you would like to see the doctor, and we will book a time and explain how the video call works. Have your medical aid details ready if you want to use them.
No. In an emergency, call 086 1725 633 for a Ralmed ambulance, or 10177, or 112 from any mobile. Video consultations are for concerns that are not emergencies. Chest pain, difficulty breathing and serious injuries need a crew or an emergency unit, not a screen.
You need a phone or computer with a camera, a stable internet connection and a quiet, private place to talk. Charge your device beforehand, and have a list of any medicines you take nearby, so the doctor can see and hear you clearly and has what they need.
Yes, where the consultation supports it. A Ralmed doctor on a video call issues sick notes in the same way as at the practice. If the doctor cannot assess you properly on screen, they will ask you to come in to the practice first.
Sometimes. The doctor decides whether it is safe to prescribe without examining you, based on what you describe, what they can see and your medical history. If they need more information, they will ask you to visit the practice or have a test before prescribing anything.
The doctor will ask you to come in to the practice at 89 Impala Road, Kelvin View, Sandton, which is open 24 hours a day, every day. Call ahead on 086 1725 633 so the practice expects you, and mention your video consultation when you arrive.
Yes. A video consultation is confidential, like any appointment with a doctor. Take the call somewhere you will not be overheard, and use your own device if you can. Your personal information is handled under our privacy policy and South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act.
Yes. A parent or guardian can book a video consultation for a child and should stay with them for the whole call. Younger children often find it easier on a parent's lap. If the doctor needs to examine your child, they will ask you to bring them to the practice.
It depends on your scheme and your plan, although many schemes now cover video consultations. Check with your scheme before you book, and ask whether you need to pay first and claim back. [INSERT: whether the practice bills medical schemes directly for video consultations, and which ones]
Video consultations suit patients who could come in to the practice if the doctor needs to examine them in person. Like every doctor practising in South Africa, our GPs are registered with the HPCSA, which sets the rules for telehealth.
Related services
When you need to be examined, visit our 24-hour GP practice in Sandton. Families planning treatment in South Africa can use our international patient service, and everyone should save our ambulance number for emergencies.
See a Ralmed GP by video for concerns that do not need an examination, with sick notes and referrals where appropriate. Call 086 1725 633 or send a WhatsApp to book. We will set a time for your virtual doctor consultation.
