A cough or sore throat can have more than one cause. A doctor may ask about timing, fever, phlegm, breathing, exposure to illness, medicines and existing conditions before discussing the next step.
This page helps you prepare for that conversation. It cannot tell you what is causing your symptoms or confirm that video assessment will be enough.
Prepare for the video consultation
- Take your temperature if you have a thermometer and record when it was measured.
- Keep inhalers, medicine packaging and allergy information nearby.
- Sit somewhere quiet and well lit so the doctor can see and hear you clearly.
- Be ready to say where you are in Singapore in case urgent help is needed.
Registration does not establish that teleconsultation is suitable. The doctor may change the care route after hearing your history.
New to video visits? Read our first teleconsultation guide and check consultation, medication and delivery fees before joining.
What a video consultation can—and cannot—do
During a live video consultation, a GP can take a history, listen to how you speak and breathe, and ask you to show visible areas where the camera is useful. The doctor can discuss a care plan and decide whether medicines, follow-up or an in-person review are appropriate.
Video cannot replace every examination. HealthHub notes that a doctor cannot listen to your heart or lungs through a teleconsultation. A physical examination, oxygen reading, throat swab, chest imaging or another test may require in-person care.
When in-person assessment may be needed
Arrange prompt medical advice when any of these apply. This is not an exhaustive triage list.
- Symptoms are worsening, not improving as expected, or keep returning
- You have a fever above 38°C with a sore throat, or a cold that becomes worse during self-care
- There is blood in saliva or phlegm, a neck lump, ear pain or marked neck pain
- You have a suppressed immune system or an existing heart or lung condition
- The online doctor recommends a physical examination or test
When to seek urgent or emergency care
- Difficulty breathing, severe breathlessness or blue lips
- Chest pain, confusion, fainting or another sign that you may be seriously unwell
- Difficulty swallowing with drooling, or rapidly increasing swelling of the mouth, tongue or throat
- Coughing up a significant amount of blood
Do not wait in an online queue for a life-threatening emergency. Call 995 for an ambulance.
Common questions
Can an online doctor listen to my lungs?
No. A video call lets the doctor observe and speak with you, but it does not let them listen to your lungs with a stethoscope. The doctor may recommend an in-person examination when that information is needed.
Should I show the doctor my throat on camera?
The doctor may ask you to use the camera and a light, but image quality varies and a video view is not the same as an in-person examination. Follow the doctor’s instructions rather than trying to diagnose what you see.
Will a consultation guarantee antibiotics or an MC?
No. Medicines and medical certificates depend on the doctor’s assessment. A consultation is not a purchase of a prescription, antibiotic or certificate.
Sources & editorial note
- HealthHub / Ministry of Health: Using telemedicine the safe way
- HealthHub: Sore Throat
- HealthHub: Common Cold
- Singapore Civil Defence Force: Emergency Medical Services
Sources checked on 26 September 2026. This original guide provides general information. It does not diagnose a condition, replace a consultation or cover every reason to seek care.