How to Create an App Like Practo – Doctor Booking & Teleconsultation App

The healthcare industry is rapidly embracing digital solutions, and telemedicine is no longer a convenience but a necessity.

Apps like Practo have revolutionized the way patients access healthcare by providing seamless doctor appointment booking, online consultations, and digital health records, all from the comfort of home.

In fact, the global telemedicine market is expected to reach $124.5 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 23.5% from 2021 as per Fortune Business Insights.

This surge in demand highlights a massive opportunity for entrepreneurs and developers to enter the digital health space.

If you’re wondering how to create an app like Practo, understanding its business model, key features, and technological requirements is the first step toward building a successful healthcare application.

Understanding Practo’s Business Model

Before developing a healthcare app, it’s essential to understand how a successful platform like Practo operates. At its core, Practo offers a range of features designed to connect patients and doctors efficiently.

Key services include:

• Doctor appointment booking, which allows patients to schedule visits with ease,
• Teleconsultation for remote medical advice,
• Health record management for storing and accessing medical history digitally, and
• Online pharmacy integration to order medicines directly through the app.

Practo’s revenue model is equally strategic.

The platform generates income through subscription plans for doctors, charges commissions on consultations, and leverages in-app advertisements and premium features for additional revenue streams.

For developers seeking guidance on how to build an app like practo, understanding these business dynamics helps in planning both functionality and monetization effectively.

Core Features to Include in Your Doctor Booking & Teleconsultation App

When planning how to create an app like Practo, including the right features is crucial. Here’s a breakdown of essential functionalities for patients, doctors, and the admin panel to ensure a seamless healthcare experience.

• For Patients

Patients should have easy access to features like user registration, doctor search and filters by specialty or location, appointment booking with reminders, video or audio teleconsultation, e-prescriptions, and health record management.

Including a ratings and reviews system boosts trust. Incorporating these features is key to successfully replicating the Practo experience.

• For Doctors

Doctors require functionalities like profile management, appointment scheduling synced with their calendars, teleconsultation tools, patient history access, and payment handling.

Offering a smooth interface for medical professionals is critical for adoption. This ensures doctors can efficiently manage their practice while providing quality care. If you are planning to not integrate these core doctor features, there is no point of learning how to build an app like practo.

• Admin Panel

An admin dashboard is essential for managing users and doctors, monitoring analytics, processing payments, handling subscriptions, and updating content like health tips or articles.

A robust admin panel ensures the platform runs smoothly and supports growth. Understanding this helps in creating an app similar to Practo with effective operational control.

Technology Stack for a Practo-like App

Choosing the right technology stack for a telemedicine app is critical, especially when planning how to create an app like Practo. The right combination ensures smooth performance, scalability, and a secure environment for patient and doctor data. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the essential technologies.

• Mobile App Development

For cross-platform functionality, you can use Flutter or React Native development to build both iOS and Android apps efficiently. Native development with Swift (iOS) or Kotlin (Android) is also an option for better performance. Picking the right framework is crucial in building an app similar to Practo that runs smoothly on all devices.

• Backend Development & Database

The backend handles appointments, user data, teleconsultation sessions, and more. Popular choices include Node.js, Python (Django/Flask), or Java development (Spring Boot). For databases, MySQL and MongoDB are reliable options. The backend must support real-time features for video consultations and secure health record storage, which is essential when learning how to create an app like Practo.

• APIs & Cloud Services

Integration of healthcare APIs like video calling (Twilio or Agora), payment gateways, and notification systems is necessary. Cloud services such as AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure ensure scalability and reliability. A robust API structure is one of the key technical decisions for anyone planning how to create an app like Practo efficiently.

• Security & Compliance

Data protection is non-negotiable. Implement HIPAA compliance, encryption protocols, and secure authentication. Ensuring compliance with medical data standards is critical for creating a Practo-like healthcare app that earns trust from both patients and doctors.

Step-by-Step Guide to Develop a Practo-like App

Building a healthcare app requires a structured approach. Understanding how to create an app like Practo helps you avoid common pitfalls, ensure a smooth development process, and deliver a product that meets both patient and doctor expectations.

Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide.

• Market Research & Competitor Analysis

Start by analyzing the telemedicine market and competitors like Practo. Identify gaps, user pain points, and feature demands. Understanding digital healthcare trends and user expectations forms the foundation for building an app similar to Practo and ensures your app addresses real healthcare needs effectively.

• Define MVP (Minimum Viable Product)

Determine the core features required for your first version, including appointment booking, teleconsultation, and patient record management. Focusing on the MVP development saves time and cost, allowing you to launch faster while learning how to create an app like Practo from real user feedback.

• Design Wireframes & UI/UX

Develop intuitive wireframes and a user-friendly interface for both patients and doctors. Smooth navigation, accessible buttons, and clear layouts are critical for adoption. Proper UI/UX design is one of the most important steps when creating an app similar to Practo.

• Backend Development & API Integration

Build a robust backend to handle appointments, consultations, and payments. Integrate essential APIs for video calls, notifications, and payments. Strong backend development ensures reliability and scalability, which is crucial in how to create an app like Practo that can grow with users.

• Mobile App Development

Develop iOS and Android apps using your chosen framework. Ensure performance, security, and responsiveness. Proper coding and testing at this stage is vital for patient satisfaction and is a key part of how to create an app like Practo effectively.

• Testing & Quality Assurance

Perform thorough functional, usability, and security testing. Ensure teleconsultation features, notifications, and payment gateways work seamlessly. Testing is a critical step in building an app similar to Practo, preventing issues before launch.

• Deployment & Post-launch Updates

Deploy your app to app stores and monitor user feedback. Continuous improvements, bug fixes, and new feature updates are necessary to retain users. Following a structured post-launch strategy ensures long-term success when developing a Practo-like platform.

Conclusion

Developing a healthcare app is a significant opportunity in today’s digital-first world. Understanding how to create an app like Practo from business model to technology stack and features ensures you deliver value to both patients and doctors.

With careful planning, MVP development, and post-launch improvements, you can build a reliable, scalable telemedicine platform.

If you’re ready to turn your healthcare app idea into reality, EngineerBabu offers expert development teams and end-to-end support to help you launch faster and smarter. Start your project today and bring your telemedicine vision to life.

FAQs about How to Build an App Like Practo

1. What is the first step in creating an app like Practo?

The first step is market research and competitor analysis. Identify the key features users need and the gaps in existing solutions to plan a successful MVP.

2. How much does it cost to develop a Practo-like app?

The cost depends on complexity, features, and team size. A basic MVP can start around $20,000–$30,000, while a full-featured app may exceed $60,000–$80,000.

3. Which features are essential for a telemedicine app?

Core features include doctor appointment booking, video/audio consultations, patient health records, e-prescriptions, payment integration, and ratings/reviews.

4. What technologies are recommended for developing a Practo-like app?

For mobile apps: Flutter or React Native; backend: Node.js, Django, or Spring Boot; database: MySQL or MongoDB; cloud: AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud.

5. How can I make my app stand out from Practo?

Offer AI-powered symptom checkers, personalized health tips, loyalty programs, or integration with wearable devices to provide a unique experience for users.