Terms of use
Draft pending legal review. These terms have not yet been reviewed by a qualified lawyer in Ireland. They describe how Shifa is intended to operate and will be finalised before the platform serves real patients.
What Shifa is, and what it is not
Shifa connects you with independent, registered doctors. We help you understand your symptom, see how urgent it may be, choose a suitable doctor and book and pay for an appointment.
Shifa does not practise medicine. We do not diagnose, we do not prescribe, and we do not provide medical advice. The doctor you see is an independent clinician, not our employee. Clinical responsibility for your care rests with that doctor and with the facility where you are seen.
Information on our symptom pages is general guidance to help you decide what to do next. It is never a substitute for being examined by a doctor.
Emergencies
Shifa is not an emergency service and is not monitored around the clock. If someone may be seriously unwell, call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department. Do not wait for a reply from anyone on this platform.
Using Shifa
- You must give accurate information about the patient, including age and symptoms.
- You may book for someone else where you are entitled to act for them.
- You must not use Shifa to obtain medicines without a genuine consultation.
- You must not misuse, disrupt or attempt to gain unauthorised access to the platform.
Doctors on Shifa
We check that a doctor holds a current registration with the Irish Medical and Dental Council before their profile is published, and we remove profiles when a registration lapses. Verification confirms registration; it is not a guarantee of any particular outcome of your care.
Fees and payment
The consultation fee is shown in full before you confirm a booking, and nothing is added afterwards. Cancellations and refunds are covered by our cancellation and refund policy.
Your information
How we handle your personal and health information is set out in our privacy notice, including how long medical records must be kept.
Complaints
If something goes wrong, contact us and we will investigate. A complaint about clinical care may also be raised directly with the doctor, the facility, or the Irish Medical and Dental Council.