PRIVACY POLICY & TERMS OF USE

AK Institute of Ophthalmology (AKIO)

Effective Date: 1st September 2021

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This Privacy Policy and Terms of Use is a legally binding document. By accessing or using our website www.theakio.com, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to be bound by all terms herein. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of this Website immediately.

1. INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the official website of AK Institute of Ophthalmology (AKIO) (“AKIO”, “we”, “our”, or “us”) – www.theakio.com (hereinafter referred to as the “Website”).

AKIO is a specialised healthcare facility providing advanced eye care services in the Delhi NCR region. We are equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment technologies and are committed to the highest standards of care, ethics, and patient privacy.

This document constitutes our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use (“Terms”). By accessing or using our Website and services, you agree to be legally bound by these Terms, irrespective of your nationality, age group, or location.

Please read these Terms carefully before continuing to use the Website.

  • uncheckedI understand that the Terms & Conditions contained herein, along with the Privacy Policy, govern my use and/or access of the Website as a lawful contract, binding and enforceable on me, and I hereby accept and consent to be governed by these Terms & Conditions.

2. ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS

By accessing, using, or interacting with our Website – including via third-party platforms (e.g., Google, Facebook, Meta, etc.) – you confirm your consent to these Terms and agree to comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

AKIO reserves the right to modify or revise these Terms at its sole discretion at any time. Continued use following any updates will signify your acceptance of those revisions. If you do not agree to such amendments, you must Contact Us. We recommend that you periodically review this page for the latest version.

Upon your consent, these Terms shall constitute a legal and binding electronic contract between you and AKIO.

3. USER ELIGIBILITY

The Website is accessible to individuals of all age groups; however, you must be above 18 years and competent to contract in terms of the Indian Contract Act, 1872. If you are below 18 years of age, you must access or use the Website under the supervision or with the consent of a parent or legal guardian.

By using the Website, you represent and warrant that:

  • You are legally competent to contract under Indian law or applicable jurisdictional law
  • You are using the Website for lawful purposes only
  • All information submitted by you is truthful, current, and complete

4. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

The Website serves as a digital platform to:

  • Provide detailed information about AKIO, its treatment offerings, facilities, doctors, operational hours, and specialisations
  • Facilitate appointment bookings with AKIO’s healthcare professionals
  • Offer interactive location maps and directions to AKIO hospital
  • Allow access to AKIO’s social media and community outreach channels
  • Share educational content related to eye care, wellness, and surgery

Please Note: Any telemedicine or virtual consultation services, when provided, may be operated through third-party platforms and are subject to the respective third party’s Terms and Privacy Policies. AKIO is not responsible for data processing on such platforms.

5. INFORMATION WE COLLECT

AKIO may collect and process the following categories of personal and health-related information:

Basic Identification Information:

  • Full name, salutation, age, gender
  • Contact details (phone number, email address, mobile number, address)
  • Location data

Technical & Usage Information:

  • IP address, browser type, device/hardware information
  • Information on how you use our Website (pages visited, duration, items clicked)
  • Data collected through cookies and web beacons

Health & Appointment Information:

  • Appointment preferences and history
  • Medical history or symptoms, if voluntarily provided
  • Feedback and consultation records

Information from Other Sources:

  • Data derived from your social media accounts (when using social login)
  • Information from the public domain through internet searches or third-party cookies

6. HOW WE COLLECT INFORMATION

We collect your information in the following ways:

Directly from You, such as when you:

  • Book an appointment or request a callback
  • Visit our Website or social media pages
  • Subscribe to our newsletter or marketing materials
  • Submit enquiry or feedback forms

Indirectly, through:

  • Cookies and web beacons
  • Website traffic and analytics tools
  • Information from social media or third-party platforms
  • Analytics studies and other processing activities

For social media logins, your use is also governed by the terms and privacy practices of those respective platforms.

7. HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

We collect and process your information for the following purposes:

Service Delivery:

  • Providing and improving our healthcare services
  • Processing appointment bookings, callbacks, and follow-ups
  • Syncing devices and personalising your Website experience

Communication:

  • Sending appointment confirmations, health updates, and service information
  • Responding to enquiries and feedback
  • Sending direct mailers and promotional content (with an option to opt-out at any time)

Operations & Improvement:

  • Conducting market research, surveys, and trend analysis
  • Improving and developing our Website and digital services
  • Enhancing brand awareness through search engine and social media tools

Legal & Compliance:

  • Complying with applicable Indian laws and regulations
  • Detecting and handling data breach scenarios
  • Honouring user rights and legal obligations

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data in any manner.

8. HOW WE PROTECT YOUR INFORMATION

AKIO is committed to managing and securing your personal data with confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity. We have implemented reasonable technical, operational, and organisational safeguards, including:

  • Access Controls – Only limited authorised personnel and approved third parties have access to personal data on a need-to-know basis
  • Staff Training – All our staff and representatives receive appropriate and ongoing training on data protection obligations
  • Encryption and Security Protocols – Industry-standard encryption and security measures are applied to stored and transmitted data
  • Audit & Inspection Rights – Before transferring data to third parties, we conduct reasonable due diligence including evaluation of their processes and data protection compliance

All data is processed in compliance with applicable Indian data protection laws and our internal privacy practices.

9. HOW LONG WE STORE YOUR INFORMATION

We will store and process your personal data for such duration as is necessary to:

  • Fulfill the purposes stated in this Privacy Policy
  • Comply with applicable law and legal obligations
  • Support legitimate business operations

Our overarching goal is not to retain personal data in identifiable form longer than what is necessary. Once data is no longer required, it will be anonymised or securely destroyed.

10. COOKIES POLICY

What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit our Website. They help us understand how you use our Website and improve your experience.

Types of Cookies We Use:

Cookie Type Purpose
Essential Cookies Required for the Website to function (e.g., session management)
Analytical Cookies Help us understand user behaviour and improve the Website
Marketing Cookies Used for targeted advertising and remarketing
Preference Cookies Remember your settings and preferences

Managing Cookies

You have the right to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser settings to decline cookies if you prefer. Please note that this may prevent you from taking full advantage of the Website.

By continuing to use our Website, you consent to our use of cookies as described above.

11. THIRD-PARTY SHARING & DATA TRANSFER

AKIO maintains strict controls on who can access and process your personal data. Your data may be transferred or shared with third parties only in the following circumstances:

  • Agents or third-party service providers who provide administrative, IT, or other services to AKIO
  • Any government authority or agency acting for the government, as required by law or court order
  • Where disclosure is required for a larger public interest or the protection of your legal rights
  • Any third party in the event of a merger, acquisition, or corporate restructuring
  • For enhancing brand recognition and user engagement through authorised third-party marketing tools

Before sharing your data, we conduct reasonable due diligence, including evaluating the third party’s data protection processes and mandating compliance with applicable laws.

We do not sell your personal information to any third party for commercial purposes.

12. YOUR RIGHTS AS A USER

As a user of our Website, you have the following rights with respect to your personal data:

  • Right to Access – Seek confirmation on whether and what personal data is being processed, and request access to that data
  • Right to Erasure – Request deletion of your personal data where it is no longer necessary for the purposes it was collected
  • Right to Restrict Processing – Object to or limit how your data is being processed
  • Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw your consent at any time without affecting the lawfulness of processing before withdrawal
  • Right to Data Portability – Request transfer of your personal data to another service provider in a structured format
  • Right to Modify Consent – Update or modify the scope of your consent at any time
  • Right to Lodge a Complaint: File a complaint with the appropriate authority under applicable law

To exercise any of these rights, please Contact Us. Please note that certain rights may affect your ability to access the Website or avail certain services, and we will notify you before acting on such requests.

13. USAGE GUIDELINES & PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES

Most Website features are available without registration. However, booking appointments or accessing certain information may require a one-time or session-based registration.

You agree NOT to:

  • Upload false, misleading, or fraudulent information
  • Attempt unauthorised access to hospital systems or patient data
  • Misuse of patient data, images, or hospital content
  • Introduce viruses, malware, or harmful code into the Website
  • Disrupt Website functionality or services
  • Transmit unlawful, abusive, defamatory, obscene, or harmful content
  • Infringe upon the intellectual property or proprietary rights of AKIO or others
  • Misrepresent or impersonate another individual or entity
  • Engage in data mining, scraping, or similar data extraction techniques

Any violation may result in legal action and restricted access. AKIO reserves the right to modify, suspend, or remove any feature, section, or content from the Website without prior notice.

14. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

Unless expressly specified otherwise, all content on this Website, including but not limited to text, images, graphics, logos, audio and video files, software, documents, designs, icons, brand names, trademarks, slogans, and other proprietary elements, is the intellectual property of AKIO.

No part of this content may be copied, reproduced, downloaded, published, transmitted, or distributed in any form without the prior written approval of AKIO.

AKIO grants you a limited, non-exclusive, and non-transferable license to access and use the Website for personal, non-commercial purposes only. This license permits the temporary viewing of content but does not allow downloading, reproduction, or use for the benefit of third parties or competing platforms.

Any effort to decompile, disassemble, reverse engineer, or remove proprietary notices is strictly prohibited. Unauthorised use may result in the suspension or termination of your access and legal action.

15. WEBSITE AVAILABILITY

While AKIO endeavours to provide uninterrupted access to the Website, we do not guarantee continuous availability. Temporary outages due to technical issues, scheduled maintenance, or third-party service disruptions may occur, for which AKIO is not liable.

16. ANTI-SPAM POLICY

AKIO is committed to ensuring that all marketing communications sent to you are relevant and useful. We will only send you marketing emails or messages if you have opted in to receive them.

You may opt out of receiving marketing communications at any time by:

  • Clicking the “Unsubscribe” link in any marketing email
  • Contacting us directly at the details provided in Section 31

We will not send unsolicited marketing messages and will honour all opt-out requests promptly.

17. REVIEWS AND USER FEEDBACK

Any review, suggestion, comment, or submission made by you becomes the sole property of AKIO. We may use, publish, or modify such content without restriction, including for promotional purposes.

You agree not to submit content that:

  • Violates third-party rights
  • Contains defamatory or offensive material
  • Misleads or impersonates others

You agree that AKIO is under no obligation to maintain the confidentiality of any feedback, to respond to any feedback, or that your feedback will cause the violation of any third-party rights or cause injury to any person or entity.

18. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES

The Website and all associated services are provided “as is” without warranty of any kind — express or implied. AKIO makes no guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of the content for a particular purpose. Users access the Website at their own discretion and risk.

19. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

AKIO will not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, punitive, or consequential damages arising from:

  • Your access to or use of the Website
  • Any error, omission, or technical malfunction
  • Loss of data or unauthorised access
  • Third-party content or service integration
  • Unauthorised access or data breaches beyond reasonable control

20. INDEMNIFICATION

You agree to indemnify and hold AKIO, its affiliates, employees, doctors, management, consultants, and representatives harmless from any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, or expenses (including legal costs) arising out of:

  • Your violation of these Terms
  • Misuse of the Website
  • Submission of false or misleading information
  • Any third-party claim due to content or data submitted by you

21. TERMINATION

AKIO reserves the right to restrict or terminate your access to the Website or its services at any time, without prior notice, if you are found to violate these Terms or for any reason deemed appropriate by AKIO.

22. MEDICAL DISCLAIMER

  • All content on this Website is for informational and educational purposes only
  • It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment
  • No doctor-patient relationship is created through this Website
  • Patients are strongly advised to consult qualified ophthalmologists at AKIO for all medical decisions

23. APPOINTMENT & COMMUNICATION DISCLAIMER

  • Submission of enquiry/appointment forms does not guarantee confirmation
  • AKIO reserves the right to accept, reschedule, or decline appointments
  • Communication via WhatsApp, email, or phone is facilitatory in nature and does not constitute binding medical advice

24. TELECONSULTATION (IF APPLICABLE)

  • Teleconsultation services are limited in scope
  • Diagnosis may be provisional and based on available information
  • Patients are advised to visit AKIO physically for definitive care when required
  • AKIO does not intend to provide medical consultation to individuals outside India; information on this Website may not apply to individuals in other jurisdictions

25. DATA SECURITY DISCLAIMER

While AKIO follows industry-standard security practices, please note:

  • No digital system is completely secure
  • AKIO is not liable for data breaches due to:
    • Cyber-attacks beyond our reasonable control
    • Internet or network failures
    • Unauthorised third-party access despite reasonable safeguards

In the event of a data breach that affects your personal information, AKIO will make reasonable efforts to notify you and take corrective action in accordance with applicable law.

26. THIRD-PARTY LINKS

The Website may contain links to external websites not operated by AKIO. Please be aware that:

  • AKIO has no control over the content, privacy practices, or security of those external sites
  • AKIO is not responsible for any loss or damage arising from your use of linked third-party websites
  • Use of any such linked website is entirely at your own risk

We encourage you to review the privacy policy of every website you visit.

27. ACCURACY OF INFORMATION

  • Content on this Website may contain technical, typographical, or medical information updates
  • AKIO reserves the right to update or change content without prior notice
  • AKIO is under no obligation to keep all information continuously updated
  • Users should verify time-sensitive or critical information directly with AKIO staff before making any decisions

28. SEVERABILITY & WAIVER

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unlawful, void, or unenforceable, that provision shall be severed from the Terms without affecting the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions.

Failure by AKIO to enforce any provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of that right or any other right under these Terms.

29. GOVERNING LAW & DISPUTE RESOLUTION

These Terms shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of India.

Any disputes arising out of or in connection with these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in New Delhi, India. Before initiating any legal proceedings, the parties agree to attempt to resolve the dispute through mediation under the auspices of the Delhi High Court Mediation Centre.

If mediation is not initiated or concluded within a period of three (3) months from the date one party notifies the other in writing of a dispute, the matter shall be referred to and decided by the competent courts in New Delhi.

30. CHANGES TO THIS POLICY

AKIO reserves the right to update or revise this Privacy Policy and Terms at any time at its sole discretion. When we make changes:

  • The updated Terms will be published on this page with a revised “Last Updated” date
  • For significant changes, we may notify you via email or a prominent notice on the Website
  • Your continued use of the Website following any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms

We recommend reviewing this page periodically to stay informed.

31. CONTACT US

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact us:

AK Institute of Ophthalmology (AKIO)

📍 B7/123A, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi – 110024, Delhi NCR, India

📧 Email: office@theakio.com, contact@theakio.com 

📞 Phone: 1800 4120 2532, 011-46170900, +91-9990264721

🌐 Website: www.theakio.com

We aim to respond to all queries within 7 business days.