OCM was founded in 2017 by Shubhang Tandon, who previously worked on point-of-care diagnostics in the US. Growing up in Lucknow with his sister Smriti Tandon, he had seen firsthand how difficult healthcare access could be — even in a Tier-2 city.
“If this was our reality,” Smriti recalls, “imagine villages where the nearest doctor is 50 kilometres away.”
The breakthrough insight came during grassroots research:
Before visiting a doctor, most rural patients first consult their local medical store owner — a trusted community figure.
Instead of replacing rural healthcare systems, Shubhang decided to empower them.
In 2022, Smriti joined the mission full-time to help scale the initiative nationally.
The OCM Model: Community-Powered Telemedicine
OCM transforms existing medical stores into digital e-Clinics, where trained store staff assist patients in connecting with certified doctors through video consultations.
The concept sounds simple. Execution wasn’t.
Early challenges included:
- Building trust in remote consultations
- Training non-technical store staff
- Managing unreliable internet connectivity
- Overcoming digital literacy gaps
The solution? Deep community immersion.
“We embedded ourselves in the villages,” says Shubhang. “We simplified the tech and kept the human warmth intact.”
What Makes OCM Different?
1. Trust-First Approach
OCM leverages existing community relationships rather than disrupting them.
2. Assisted Telemedicine
Store staff help patients navigate the technology, eliminating digital barriers.
3. Complete Care Cycle
OCM emphasizes follow-ups and chronic disease management — not just one-time consultations.
4. Affordable Pricing
General consultations start at just ₹50, making specialist care accessible.
Real Stories, Real Impact
Sukhadev Mokale (Maharashtra)
After 18 months of untreated numbness, he consulted a neurologist through OCM. Today, quarterly follow-ups save him nearly ₹12,000 annually in travel costs.
Om Parkash Shukla (Uttar Pradesh)
Managing diabetes for 12 years, he now receives consistent monitoring through his village e-Clinic. His HbA1c levels have improved significantly.
Mayawati (Rural UP)
Chronic abdominal pain resolved after three OCM consultations and structured follow-ups.
Beyond Clinics: Telehealth at Mass Gatherings
OCM has also supported large public events:
- Mahakumbh 2025 – Digital OPDs serving thousands daily in partnership with UP Health Department
- Amarnath Yatra 2024 – Free BP checks and consultations at base camp
This demonstrates OCM’s ability to scale in high-demand environments.
A Sustainable Business Model
OCM operates on a B2B2C hybrid model designed for rural economics.
| Stakeholder | Investment | Value Delivered |
| Store Owner | ₹15,000–₹1.2L | Technology, training, +25% footfall |
| Patient | Starting ₹50 | Specialist access, affordable care |
| OCM Platform | Tech + Ops | Recurring revenue, long-term retention |
“Our unit economics show that doing good and doing well can go together,” says Shubhang.
Technology Built for Rural India
OCM’s platform is designed for real-world constraints:
- Supports Hindi & English
- Multilingual team (Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, English)
- Automated follow-up system
- Plans for ABHA-linked digital records
- Upcoming IoT diagnostics (blood sugar, ECG, vitals)
- AI-powered decision support planned for future
The focus remains on legality, reliability, and safety — not hype.
Growth Roadmap
2025–2026 Targets
- 1,000+ daily consultations
- 1,000+ e-Clinics across 20+ states
- Community health hubs for diagnostics + consultation
Vision 2030
- Specialist access within 10km of every rural household
- 60% reduction in late-stage diagnoses
- 50% increase in women’s healthcare participation
- Advanced IoT-enabled infrastructure
- International expansion
Lessons for Startup Founders
OCM’s journey offers valuable insights:
- Start with community insight, not technology
- Trust is more powerful than features
- Build sustainable economics early
- Measure success through outcomes, not vanity metrics
- Adapt methods — not the mission
“Innovation isn’t about disruption,” says Smriti. “It’s about integration.”
Conclusion
Online Chikitsa Mitra has proven that healthcare transformation does not always require building new hospitals. Sometimes, it begins at the local medical store — the heart of every village.By combining technology, trust, and sustainable economics, OCM is redefining rural healthcare access in India.And perhaps, setting a blueprint for the world.
