Medical Prescriptions

Electronic prescriptions can provide a convenient way for eligible patients to receive prescriptions digitally, where clinically appropriate and where the service is available. Through telehealth, an Australian-registered medical practitioner may assess a patient's request and, if appropriate, issue a prescription electronically.

Prescription requests through Dociva, where available, are subject to clinical review. A prescription is not guaranteed and will only be provided where the reviewing doctor considers it clinically appropriate and safe based on the information provided and any further assessment they require.

If you have chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, signs of a stroke, heavy bleeding, collapse, seizure, sudden swelling of the lips, mouth, throat or tongue, thoughts of self-harm, or any symptom that feels serious or life-threatening, call 000 immediately or attend the nearest emergency department.

What Are E-Prescriptions?

E-prescriptions, also known as electronic prescriptions, are digital versions of traditional paper prescriptions. They may be issued by a medical practitioner during an appropriate in-person or telehealth consultation.

Instead of receiving a printed paper prescription, a patient may receive an electronic prescription token by SMS, email or another approved digital method. The token can then be presented to a pharmacy for dispensing, subject to pharmacy processes and medicine availability.

Electronic prescribing can help reduce the risk of lost paper prescriptions and improve communication between patients, prescribers and pharmacists. However, an e-prescription still requires appropriate clinical review and safe prescribing judgement.

One Time Services

How Online Prescriptions Work

The process for requesting an online prescription through a service like Dociva may involve the following steps:

1. Select the relevant online healthcare service, where available.
2. Provide accurate information about your symptoms, medical history, current medicines, allergies and the reason for your request.
3. An Australian-registered medical practitioner reviews your request.
4. The doctor may require phone or video contact before making a decision if they consider it clinically necessary.
5. If the doctor considers a prescription clinically appropriate and safe, the prescription may be issued electronically.
6. You may receive an electronic prescription token by SMS, email or another approved method.
7. You can present the token to a pharmacy for dispensing, subject to pharmacy requirements and medicine availability.

Processing time can vary depending on practitioner availability, application volume, the information provided and whether further assessment is required. A prescription will not be issued unless the doctor considers it clinically appropriate.

Conditions That May Be Considered Online

Some non-emergency prescription requests may be suitable for online assessment. Suitability depends on the condition, the medicine requested, your medical history, safety considerations and the practitioner's clinical judgement.

Online prescribing may be considered for certain straightforward or ongoing healthcare needs where the doctor has enough information to assess the request safely.

Online prescriptions are not suitable for all medical issues, all medicines or all patients. Some symptoms, conditions or medicines may require in-person assessment, physical examination, tests, review by your regular GP, specialist input or urgent care.

Benefits of E-Prescriptions

• Convenient: Electronic tokens may be easier to access and store than paper prescriptions.
• Accessible: Telehealth may support patients who have difficulty attending a clinic in person.
• Practical: Prescriptions may be sent digitally where clinically appropriate and technically available.
• Secure: Electronic prescribing systems are designed to support safer prescription handling.
• Flexible: Patients may be able to present the prescription token to a participating pharmacy.

Book Online Consultation

Are Online Prescriptions Legal in Australia?

Online prescriptions may be issued in Australia where they are provided by an appropriately registered prescriber after an appropriate clinical assessment and in accordance with applicable professional and regulatory requirements.

Telehealth does not remove the doctor's professional obligations. The same clinical responsibility applies whether the assessment occurs in person, by phone, by video or through another appropriate telehealth pathway.

A prescription request may be declined if the doctor considers it unsafe, inappropriate, incomplete, unclear, too complex for online assessment or better managed through in-person care.

Can You Get a Prescription Without Seeing a Doctor?

A prescription requires review by an appropriate healthcare practitioner. A prescription should not be treated as automatic paperwork or a guaranteed online product.

For any Dociva service, the doctor may require phone or video contact before making a decision if they consider it clinically necessary. This may apply to new prescription requests, repeat prescription requests and any other clinical request submitted through Dociva.

Repeat prescription requests, where available, may be considered where a condition has previously been diagnosed and appears suitable for online review. However, repeat prescriptions remain at the discretion of the prescribing doctor and are not guaranteed.

E-Prescriptions vs Traditional Paper Prescriptions

Here's a quick comparison of e-prescriptions versus traditional ones:

Using My Health Record and Digital Health Services

My Health Record is an online summary of key health information. Depending on the systems used and patient settings, some prescription and medicine information may be available to treating healthcare professionals to support safer care.

Digital health services can help healthcare professionals and pharmacists make more informed decisions, but they do not replace the need for accurate information from the patient and appropriate clinical review.

You should always tell the doctor about your current medicines, allergies, pregnancy or breastfeeding status where relevant, medical conditions and any recent changes in your health.

Telehealth and E-Prescriptions for Rural Australians

Telehealth may improve access to healthcare for people living in rural, regional or remote areas, especially where attending a clinic in person is difficult.

However, telehealth is not suitable for every situation. If the doctor considers that a request cannot be safely assessed online, they may recommend in-person care, urgent care, pathology, imaging, specialist review or follow-up with your regular GP.

If your symptoms are serious, sudden, worsening or life-threatening, do not wait for an online prescription request to be reviewed. Call 000 or seek urgent medical care.

More of Our Services

Pharmacies and E-Prescription Integration

Many Australian pharmacies accept electronic prescriptions. The prescription token may be scanned or entered by the pharmacy, and the medicine may then be dispensed if the prescription is valid and the medicine is available.

Pharmacy processes, stock availability, dispensing fees, delivery options and acceptance of electronic prescriptions can vary between pharmacies. Patients should check directly with their chosen pharmacy if they are unsure.

Medicines That May Not Be Suitable Online

Some medicines and requests may not be suitable for online prescribing. This may include medicines that require physical examination, pathology, blood pressure checks, monitoring, specialist involvement, controlled prescribing requirements or a more detailed clinical review.

Dociva may apply additional restrictions to certain medicines, repeat prescriptions, high-risk medicines or requests that require more detailed clinical review.

If the doctor considers the request unsuitable for online prescribing, they may decline the request and recommend another care pathway.

Why Choose Dociva?

Dociva is designed to provide a simple and secure pathway for appropriate non-emergency online healthcare requests, where available. Prescription requests are reviewed by Australian-registered medical practitioners and are only approved where the doctor considers it clinically appropriate and safe.

Our process is designed to support practitioner-led clinical decision-making, patient safety and clear communication. A prescription, certificate, referral or other clinical outcome is not guaranteed.

For any Dociva service, further information, phone contact or video contact may be required before a doctor can make a decision.