Corresponding Author: Preeti Garg
Telemedicine, particularly the national eSanjeevani platform, has the potential to bridge healthcare gaps in rural India. However, its actual reach in northern agrarian regions remains understudied.
To assess awareness, utilization, willingness, and barriers to telemedicine services among rural adults in Hisar district, Haryana.
A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 758 adults aged ≥18 years selected through multistage random sampling from 12 villages during October 2024–March 2025. Data were collected using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire.
Awareness of telemedicine/eSanjeevani was only 18.5% (95% CI: 15.8–21.5). Utilization in the past year was 4.1%, with eSanjeevani use at 2.9%. However, 62.4% expressed willingness to use telemedicine in the future. Major barriers included lack of awareness (68.7%), poor digital literacy (45.2%), unreliable internet (39.8%), and preference for in-person visits (32.5%). Higher education, younger age, and smartphone ownership were independent predictors of awareness (p<0.001).
Despite low awareness and utilization, high willingness indicates strong potential for telemedicine in rural Haryana. Targeted awareness campaigns, digital literacy programmes, and infrastructure strengthening are urgently needed to improve uptake.