Patient Data Privacy on Clinic Websites: DPDP Act Basics

India's Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act sets expectations for how organisations handle personal data. Clinics collect names, phone numbers and sometimes health information through their websites, so good practices matter. This article is general information, not legal advice.

Collect only what you need

An appointment form usually needs a name, phone number and preferred time. Avoid asking for detailed medical history in public website forms.

Ask for clear consent

Tell patients why you collect their details and how you will use them, with a consent checkbox where appropriate.

Keep data secure

• HTTPS on every page.
• Restricted admin access with strong passwords.
• Regular backups and software updates.
• Deleting data that is no longer needed.

Publish a clear privacy policy

Explain what you collect, why, how long you keep it, who can access it and how patients can contact you about their data.

Practical checklist for clinic websites

• List every form on the website and the data it collects.
• Remove fields that are not essential.
• Add a short consent statement and link to the privacy policy near each form.
• Restrict who can see enquiries and appointment data.
• Decide how long data is kept and delete it on schedule.
• Keep a contact person for privacy questions.

Working with your website partner

Ask your developer where form data is stored, who has access, how backups are protected and whether third-party tools (chat widgets, analytics, booking systems) receive personal data. Document these answers - they help you explain your practices to patients and respond to questions confidently.

Privacy is not a one-time task. Review it whenever you add a new form, tool or service to the website.

Training the clinic team

Privacy depends on people as much as technology. Make sure staff know not to share enquiry details on personal phones, to log out of admin panels on shared computers and to forward privacy questions to the responsible person.

A short written checklist for staff, reviewed every few months, keeps good habits in place as the team changes.

Algorvis builds secure clinic websites and can guide you on privacy-friendly forms. For legal interpretation, consult a qualified professional.