Privacy Policy

Last updated: 30 July 2026

Doctors on Wheels ("we", "our", "us") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your data when you use our platform at docsonwheels.co.za.

This policy complies with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) of South Africa and the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) guidelines for telemedicine and digital health platforms.

1. Information We Collect

We collect the following categories of personal information:

Account Information: Name, email address, phone number, and account credentials.
Medical Information: Health history, symptoms, diagnoses, prescriptions, medical records, and consultation notes provided during or after appointments.
Payment Information: Payment method details processed via third-party payment processors (Yoco, PayFast). We do not store full credit card numbers.
Usage Data: IP address, browser type, device information, pages visited, and interaction data to improve our service.
Communication Data: Messages sent via our platform between patients and doctors, including video consultation metadata.

2. How We Use Your Information

Facilitate consultations between patients and healthcare providers.
Process payments and manage account credits.
Generate medical certificates, prescriptions, and referral letters as authorised by your healthcare provider.
Comply with legal and regulatory obligations, including HPCSA record-keeping requirements.
Improve platform functionality, security, and user experience.
Send service-related communications (appointment confirmations, reminders).

3. Legal Basis for Processing (POPIA)

We process your personal information under the following lawful bases:

Consent: You have given explicit consent for us to process your personal information for specific purposes (e.g., creating an account, sharing medical data with your chosen practitioner).
Performance of a Contract: Processing is necessary to provide our telehealth services under our Terms of Service.
Legal Obligation: Processing is necessary to comply with HPCSA record-keeping and POPIA requirements.
Legitimate Interest: Processing for platform security, fraud prevention, and service improvement where your rights do not override our interests.

4. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We may share your information with:

Healthcare Providers: Your chosen doctor receives the information necessary to provide medical care.
Payment Processors: Yoco and PayFast process payments in compliance with PCI DSS standards.
Legal Authorities: When required by law, court order, or regulation (e.g., HPCSA investigation).
Service Providers: Cloud infrastructure (Supabase, Cloudinary) that host and process data under strict data processing agreements.

We do not sell your personal information to third parties.

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your data, including:

End-to-end encryption for video consultations.
Data encrypted in transit (TLS/HTTPS) and at rest.
Access controls and authentication for healthcare provider accounts.
Regular security assessments and monitoring.

6. Data Retention

We retain medical records and personal information in accordance with HPCSA guidelines (minimum 6 years from the last consultation date for adults). Account information is retained until you request deletion, subject to legal retention requirements.

7. Your Rights (POPIA)

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

Right to Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
Right to Deletion: Request deletion of your data, subject to legal retention periods.
Right to Object: Object to processing based on legitimate interests.
Right to Data Portability: Request transfer of your data to another service provider.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at Doctorsonwheels@outlook.com.

8. Cookies and Tracking

We use essential cookies for authentication and session management. We also use Google Analytics (with anonymised IP) to understand platform usage. You can disable cookies in your browser settings, though some platform features may be affected.

9. Third-Party Links

Our platform may contain links to third-party services (e.g., Yoco for payments). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these services. Please review their privacy policies independently.

10. Children's Privacy

Our services are intended for individuals aged 18 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If you believe a minor has provided us with personal data, please contact us immediately.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be communicated via email or a prominent notice on our platform. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance.

12. Contact Information

For questions, concerns, or to exercise your data rights:

Email: Doctorsonwheels@outlook.com
Phone: 072 973 4610
Practice Number: PCNS: 1339370
Address: South Africa