Terms of Service

Last Updated: January 2025

Welcome to PractoSphere. These Terms of Service govern your use of our telemedicine platform. By accessing or using PractoSphere, you agree to be bound by these terms. Please read them carefully.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By creating an account, accessing, or using PractoSphere's services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to these terms, you may not use our services.

These terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and PractoSphere. We reserve the right to modify these terms at any time, and your continued use of the platform constitutes acceptance of any changes.

2. Eligibility and Account Registration

2.1 Eligibility

  • You must be at least 18 years old to create an account
  • Minors may use the service with parental or guardian consent and supervision
  • You must be a resident of Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, or South Africa
  • You must provide accurate and complete information during registration

2.2 Account Security

  • You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials
  • You must notify us immediately of any unauthorized access to your account
  • You are liable for all activities conducted through your account
  • Sharing your account with others is strictly prohibited

2.3 Practitioner Requirements

  • Practitioners must hold valid licenses from recognized regulatory bodies (MDC, GMA, MDCN, HPCSA)
  • All credentials must be verified and kept current
  • Practitioners must comply with all local medical regulations and standards of care
  • Practitioners must maintain professional liability insurance

3. Services and Medical Disclaimer

3.1 Platform Services

PractoSphere provides a technology platform that connects patients with licensed healthcare practitioners. We facilitate virtual consultations via video, audio, and chat, but we do not provide medical services directly.

3.2 Not Emergency Services

IMPORTANT: PractoSphere is NOT for medical emergencies. In case of emergency, call your local emergency number (999 in Ghana, 112 in Nigeria, 999/112 in Kenya, 10177 in South Africa) or visit the nearest emergency facility immediately.

3.3 Medical Disclaimer

  • PractoSphere does not practice medicine or provide medical advice
  • The platform facilitates communication between you and licensed practitioners
  • Practitioners are independent professionals responsible for their own medical decisions
  • We do not guarantee specific medical outcomes or results
  • Virtual consultations may have limitations compared to in-person visits
  • You should seek in-person care when recommended by your practitioner

3.4 Prescription Services

Practitioners may issue electronic prescriptions through the platform. You are responsible for filling prescriptions at licensed pharmacies. PractoSphere does not dispense medications and is not responsible for pharmacy services.

4. Fees and Payment

4.1 Consultation Fees

  • Practitioners set their own consultation fees, displayed in local currency
  • Fees must be paid before or at the time of consultation
  • All prices are clearly displayed before you confirm a booking
  • Platform fees may apply and will be disclosed during booking

4.2 Payment Methods

  • We accept major credit cards, debit cards, and mobile money
  • All payments are processed securely through encrypted payment gateways
  • You authorize us to charge your payment method for services rendered

4.3 Refunds and Cancellations

  • Cancellations made 24 hours before scheduled consultation: Full refund
  • Cancellations made 12-24 hours before: 50% refund
  • Cancellations made less than 12 hours before: No refund
  • If a practitioner cancels, you receive a full refund
  • Technical failures preventing consultation: Full refund or rescheduling

5. User Conduct and Responsibilities

5.1 Patient Responsibilities

  • Provide accurate and complete medical history
  • Attend scheduled consultations on time
  • Treat practitioners with respect and professionalism
  • Follow medical advice and treatment plans as directed
  • Inform practitioners of any medication allergies or adverse reactions

5.2 Practitioner Responsibilities

  • Maintain valid professional licenses and credentials
  • Provide care within your scope of practice and specialty
  • Maintain patient confidentiality and HIPAA compliance
  • Document consultations appropriately
  • Be available for scheduled consultations or provide adequate notice of unavailability

5.3 Prohibited Activities

You may not:

  • Use the platform for illegal activities or fraudulent purposes
  • Impersonate another person or entity
  • Share false or misleading information
  • Harass, threaten, or abuse other users
  • Attempt to circumvent platform fees or payment systems
  • Reverse engineer, hack, or compromise platform security
  • Scrape or collect user data without authorization
  • Use the platform to solicit users for competing services

6. Intellectual Property

All content, features, and functionality of PractoSphere, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, software, and design, are owned by PractoSphere and protected by international copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

You may not copy, modify, distribute, sell, or lease any part of our platform or its content without our express written permission. Medical records and consultation notes remain your property, and you retain all rights to your personal medical information.

7. Privacy and Data Protection

Your use of PractoSphere is subject to our Privacy Policy, which describes how we collect, use, and protect your information. We comply with applicable data protection laws in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa, as well as HIPAA standards for medical information.

By using our services, you consent to the collection and use of your information as described in our Privacy Policy.

8. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:

  • PractoSphere is not liable for any medical decisions, advice, or treatment provided by practitioners
  • We do not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free service
  • We are not responsible for technical failures, network issues, or third-party services
  • Our total liability shall not exceed the amount you paid for services in the preceding 12 months
  • We are not liable for indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages

Some jurisdictions do not allow limitation of liability for personal injury or certain damages, so these limitations may not apply to you.

9. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless PractoSphere, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, or expenses arising from:

  • Your use or misuse of the platform
  • Your violation of these Terms of Service
  • Your violation of any third-party rights
  • Any medical malpractice claims (for practitioners)

10. Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account at any time for:

  • Violation of these Terms of Service
  • Fraudulent, abusive, or illegal activity
  • Non-payment of fees
  • Expired or invalid professional credentials (for practitioners)

You may terminate your account at any time by contacting support. Upon termination, you will no longer have access to your account, but medical records may be retained as required by law.

11. Dispute Resolution

11.1 Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by the laws of your country of residence (Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, or South Africa) without regard to conflict of law principles.

11.2 Arbitration

Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of PractoSphere shall be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of the arbitration body in your country of residence, except where prohibited by law.

11.3 Class Action Waiver

You agree that disputes will be resolved on an individual basis and waive the right to participate in class actions, except where such waivers are prohibited by law.

12. Changes to Terms

We may modify these Terms at any time. Significant changes will be communicated via email or platform notification at least 30 days before taking effect. Your continued use of PractoSphere after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

13. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

14. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us:

Email: legal@practosphere.com

Legal Department: terms@practosphere.com

Support: support@practosphere.com

Response Time: Within 5 business days

Agreement Acknowledgment

By clicking "I Accept" or by using PractoSphere, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use our platform.