According to the National Student Life Observatory, 15% of students in Geneva gave up seeing a healthcare professional in 2024 due to financial reasons. A concerning figure that may stem from various factors: financial hardship, lack of a regular doctor, lack of knowledge about the healthcare system, or the stigma surrounding mental health.
How teleconsultation make medical care more accessible for students
Students are often considered a “healthy” population, yet they’re not immune to chronic illness or mental health disorders. Since the pandemic, mental health has even become one of the main reasons for consultations.
For many, the cost of a consultation or difficulty securing an appointment is a major barrier. To tackle this issue, the University of Geneva (UNIGE) launched Télémaque, a video consultation service offered at the accessible rate of CHF 30. Appointments can be booked online via OneDoc, which provides both the booking platform and the secure teleconsultation tool used by HUG@Home doctors.
Two tech pillars: teleconsultation and OneDoc online booking
1. Online booking: simple, fast and accessible healthcare
To book a Télémaque consultation, students go to the OneDoc platform, which enables booking in just a few clicks, from a computer or smartphone.
Key benefits in a university context:
- Appointments booked quickly without making a phone call
- Time slots available within three working days, specifically reserved for this program
- High flexibility: students choose a time that fits with their classes or activities
- Automatic sync with HUG medical calendars
- Automated reminders to avoid no-shows
- Smooth experience, even for students unfamiliar with the healthcare system
2. OneDoc teleconsultation: a flexible and powerful tool for doctors and students
Consultations last between 15 and 30 minutes and are held via OneDoc’s teleconsultation module, integrated into the care pathway developed by HUG.
Main benefits:
- Flexible and fast format: no need to travel to a clinic, ideal to schedule between classes
- Diagnostic quality: in primary care, 80% of diagnoses rely on patient history, according to HUG@Home teams
- Referral to a doctor if necessary
- Easy access via a link sent directly to the patient
At the same time, OneDoc ensures secure communication, confidentiality, and a stable connection during teleconsultations.
Our solutions to simplify patient access to care
A system also designed for mental health support
A large share of skipped care relates to mental health. Students often hesitate to seek help, fear the cost, or don’t know where to turn.
Thanks to teleconsultation, Télémaque allows:
- Lowering the barrier to first contact
- Finding a time that works for everyone
- Offering a more reassuring space, from the comfort of home
- Easy access to referrals for psychotherapy, if needed
Video consultation is thus an effective entry point toward more comprehensive care.
A strong signal for the future of digital health in Switzerland
The Télémaque project shows that technology, when simple and well-integrated, can transform access to care. This initiative serves as an inspiring model for other universities, public institutions, or healthcare systems looking for solutions to:
- Make care more accessible
- Reduce pressure on emergency services
- Improve prevention
- Fight student precarity
By streamlining both booking and remote consultations, Télémaque helps bring students closer to the care they need—right when they need it.
