The Ultimate Global Guide to Becoming a Remote General Practitioner (TeleGP)

INTRODUCTION

The healthcare industry is undergoing a digital revolution. Among the most significant shifts is the emergence and widespread acceptance of remote general practice. Known more formally as TeleGP or telemedicine general practice, this modality allows qualified general practitioners (GPs) to consult, diagnose, treat, refer, and follow up with patients virtually—often from anywhere in the world.

This guide is not just for doctors from wealthy nations. It’s for qualified GPs across the Global South who want to earn, contribute, and grow through the power of virtual care. It’s also for diaspora doctors, rural physicians, early retirees, caregivers, and digital nomads who still want to practice medicine ethically and professionally.

SECTION 1: WHAT IS A TELEGP?

A Remote General Practitioner (TeleGP) is a licensed medical doctor who provides primary healthcare consultations via digital platforms such as video calls, phone calls, mobile apps, or secure messaging. The scope of work typically includes:

• Triage and initial assessment

• Diagnosis and treatment planning

• Medication prescription and renewal

• Mental health support

• Health education and promotion

• Chronic disease management

• Referrals to specialists or emergency care

• Preventive health screening and advice

SECTION 2: CAREER PATHWAYS TO BECOME A TELEGP

Here are common routes doctors follow to become Remote GPs:

1. Traditional GP Transitioning to Telemedicine

If you're already practicing in a clinic or hospital, transitioning to TeleGP work often starts with:

• Completing CPD (Continuing Professional Development) in telemedicine.

• Joining a digital health platform.

• Receiving training in telehealth tools and virtual bedside manner.

2. International Medical Graduates (IMGs)

Doctors trained outside their target market may:

• Obtain licensure in a telemedicine-friendly country (e.g., UK, Australia, Canada, USA).

• Work for international or global health platforms catering to their home country.

• Offer services through diaspora or NGO healthcare programs.

3. New Medical Graduates

Newly qualified doctors may begin their careers remotely by:

• Joining supervised remote roles.

• Working in virtual urgent care centers.

• Specializing in virtual-only health startups.

SECTION 3: ONLINE COURSES & CERTIFICATIONS FOR TELEGPs

Consider these platforms for CPD and certifications:

• Harvard Online – Telehealth Certification: https://online-learning.harvard.edu/course/telehealth

• Coursera – Telemedicine: Tools, Uses, and Limitations: https://www.coursera.org/learn/telemedicine

• The Telehealth Certification Institute: https://www.telementalhealthtraining.com/

• FutureLearn – Digital Skills in Health: https://www.futurelearn.com/subjects/healthcare-medicine-courses

SECTION 4: JOB BOARDS AND HIRING PLATFORMS

GLOBAL TELEMEDICINE-SPECIFIC JOB BOARDS

1. MediRecruit (Australia/International) – https://www.medirecruit.com/

2. Telemedicine Jobs – https://telemedicinejobs.com/

3. Health eCareers – https://www.healthecareers.com/

4. MDsearch.com – https://www.mdsearch.com/

5. LocumTenens.com (Telehealth Roles) – https://www.locumtenens.com/telemedicine-jobs/

REMOTE WORK & FREELANCE JOB SITES (with medical sections)

1. Upwork (Health & Wellness section) – https://www.upwork.com

2. PeoplePerHour – https://www.peopleperhour.com

3. Toptal (for experienced consultants) – https://www.toptal.com/

4. We Work Remotely (Healthcare Jobs) – https://weworkremotely.com/categories/remote-healthcare-jobs

5. Remote OK (Medical & Healthcare) – https://remoteok.com/remote-health+jobs

SECTION 5: TELEMEDICINE COMPANIES HIRING TELEGPs

North America

• Teladoc Health – https://www.teladochealth.com/

• Amwell – https://business.amwell.com/

• MDLIVE – https://www.mdlive.com/

• Doctor on Demand – https://doctorondemand.com

UK & Europe

• Babylon Health – https://www.babylonhealth.com/

• Livi (KRY) – https://www.livi.co.uk/

• Push Doctor – https://www.pushdoctor.co.uk/

• eConsult Health – https://econsult.net/

Australia & New Zealand

• GP2U – https://gp2u.com.au/

• HotDoc – https://www.hotdoc.com.au/

• Doctors on Demand (Australia) – https://www.doctorsondemand.com.au/

Africa

• mPharma (West Africa) – https://mpharma.com/

• Hello Doctor (South Africa) – https://hellodoctor.com/

• CarePay Kenya – https://carepay.com/

• Rocket Health Uganda – https://www.rockethealth.africa/

India & South Asia

• Practo – https://www.practo.com/

• mfine – https://www.mfine.co/

• DocsApp – https://www.docsapp.in/

• 1mg (Now Tata 1mg) – https://www.1mg.com/

Middle East

• Okadoc – https://www.okadoc.com/

• Altibbi – https://www.altibbi.com/

SECTION 6: NGOs, NONPROFITS & GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES

• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF Telemedicine) – https://telemed.msf.org/

• PATH – Digital Health Initiatives – https://www.path.org/areas-of-focus/digital-health/

• Jhpiego (Johns Hopkins affiliate) – https://www.jhpiego.org/

• HealthEnabled.org (Digital Health in LMICs) – https://www.healthenabled.org/

• UNICEF Digital Health – https://www.unicef.org/innovation/digital-health

SECTION 7: SELF-EMPLOYMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP STRATEGIES

Build Your Own TeleGP Practice

You can legally and ethically build your private remote practice with these steps:

1. Licensure: Ensure you are legally allowed to practice in the country you target.

2. Telemedicine Platform: Use tools like Cliniko (https://www.cliniko.com/), Doxy.me (https://doxy.me/), or Zoom for Healthcare (https://zoom.us/healthcare).

3. Secure EHR Systems: Example: SimplePractice – https://www.simplepractice.com/

4. Billing and Payment: Stripe (https://stripe.com/), Paystack (Africa – https://paystack.com/), or PayPal.

5. Marketing: Use Google My Business, social media, and content marketing.

6. Professional Insurance: Medical indemnity coverage tailored to telehealth.

Target Niches:

• Women’s Health TeleGP

• Rural & Remote Populations

• Diaspora Health Services

• Geriatric Virtual Clinics

• Adolescent and Youth Counseling

• Men’s Health in Conservative Cultures

Legal and Ethical Considerations:

• Informed consent in telemedicine

• Data privacy (GDPR, HIPAA)

• Malpractice insurance coverage

• Scope of practice restrictions by jurisdiction

SECTION 8: ONLINE COMMUNITIES & CURATED RESOURCES

• r/telemedicine (Reddit) – https://www.reddit.com/r/telemedicine/

• Facebook Groups:

  • "Telemedicine & Telehealth Network"

  • "Doctors Doing Telehealth"

• Society for Participatory Medicine – https://participatorymedicine.org/

• American Telemedicine Association (ATA) – https://www.americantelemed.org/

• Telehealth Resource Centers (US-focused but helpful globally) – https://www.telehealthresourcecenter.org/

SECTION 9: LINKEDIN BEST PRACTICES FOR TELEGPs

LinkedIn can be your digital CV, business card, and referral engine.

Optimize Your Profile

• Headline: “Remote General Practitioner | Telehealth | Digital Health Advocate | Chronic Care | Preventive Health”

• About Section: Tell your story. Humanize your journey—where you trained, why you moved to virtual care, and what kind of patients you help.

• Experience: Highlight both clinical and digital skills.

• Certifications: Add telemedicine courses, CPD, and compliance training.

• Skills: Include “Telemedicine,” “Remote Patient Monitoring,” “Digital Health,” “Patient Education.”

Grow Your Network

• Connect with clinicians in digital health.

• Follow remote-first health startups and recruiters.

• Comment insightfully on health tech trends.

Content Ideas

• Share articles on virtual primary care.

• Post patient education videos (with consent).

• Discuss your experience in cross-border telemedicine.

SECTION 10: STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

• Continuous Learning: Medicine and tech change fast. Stay updated.

• Hybrid Practice: Blend telemedicine with occasional in-person consulting.

• Global Licensure: Consider additional certifications (e.g., GMC UK, USMLE).

• Mentorship: Mentor junior doctors entering the virtual care space.

• Impact Measurement: Track patient outcomes and satisfaction.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Becoming a Remote General Practitioner (TeleGP) is not just a workaround for travel or clinic closures. It is a genuine transformation of how you can deliver care, impact more lives, and sustain your career globally—even from your living room or a rural town.

Wherever you are—from Kampala to Calgary, Mumbai to Melbourne—there’s a space for you in this emerging field. You don’t need to migrate to thrive; sometimes, you just need to connect virtually and serve locally or globally.