The process for getting an online prescription is straightforward with Qoctor. You start by searching for your condition or medication. Then, you complete a brief online health assessment, followed by a video or phone consultation with a doctor. Once the doctor approves a prescription, we can send it instantly to your phone as an eScript, or directly to your local pharmacy. You can also choose home delivery for certain medications.

Yes, it’s generally safe to get an online prescription, if it is a reputable service like Qoctor.

How Qoctor supports safe online prescribing

(1) we carefully vet all doctors who work with Qoctor, and all are AHPRA-registered.

(2) Video call or phone call is mandatory for any prescriptions to be safely issued. This means each patient has a real time consultation with a doctor, which is best practice, as set out by the Australian Medical Board.

(3) ePrescriptions are particularly safe, secure and efficient. Qoctor can send ePrescriptions if you provide your Medicare details.

(4) We are happy to speak to your pharmacist about any issues that arise.

When is an online prescription not suitable?

(1) A telehealth appointment with Qoctor is NOT suitable in a medical emergency, so CALL ‘000’ if your health issue requires IMMEDIATE CARE. This includes chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe abdominal pain, confusion, reduced consciousness, severe dizziness/weakness or a mental health crisis.

(2) If it turns out you need a physical examination, your doctor may advise you to see your local GP in person. Similarly, some complex issues, such as long term pain or serious mental health conditions are best managed by your regular doctor.

(3) Some medications should be prescribed by your GP or specialist for safety reasons:

• Long term oral steroids (e.g. Prednisolone)
• Medications that require regular blood monitoring (e.g. Lithium, Warfarin)
• Oral Isotretinoin (Roaccutane)
• Stimulants or ADHD treatments (e.g. methylphenidate, dexamphetamine, lisdexamphetamine, modafinil, armodafinil)
• Clomiphene
• Long term anti-inflammatories
• Antipsychotics
• Other medications that are more usually prescribed by specialists

Yes, for most common health issues, you can request a prescription online without an in-person visit.  The doctor will assess you, and will give advice and recommend treatment as appropriate.

When is a telehealth appointment not suitable?

(1) A telehealth appointment with Qoctor is NOT suitable in a medical emergency, so call ‘000’ if you need urgent care. This includes chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe abdominal pain, confusion, going unconscious, seizures, severe weakness or a severe mental health crisis.

(2) Your Qoctor doctor  may advise you to see your local GP in person, if they think you need a physical examination. Similarly, some issues, such as long term pain or complex physical or mental health conditions are best managed by your regular doctor.

Many common medications can be prescribed online by Qoctor doctors, including contraceptive pills, asthma inhalers, treatments for erectile dysfunction, acne, acid reflux, migraine, and antibiotics for infections. However, some medications that require close, ongoing monitoring or that are classified as controlled substances require an in-person consultation.

Qoctor does not routinely prescribe opioids (drugs like Oxycodone, Tapentadol) , sleeping pills or benzodiazepines “benzos”, as these should be prescribed and responsibly monitored by your regular GP or specialist. Similarly, the following medications are not routinely prescribed:

• Long term oral steroids (e.g. Prednisolone)
• Medications that require regular blood monitoring (e.g. Lithium, Warfarin)
• Oral Isotretinoin (Roaccutane)
• Stimulants or ADHD treatments (e.g. methylphenidate, dexamphetamine, lisdexamphetamine, modafinil, armodafinil)
• Clomiphene
• Long term anti-inflammatories
• Antipsychotics
• Other medications that are more usually prescribed by specialists

eScripts are quick, secure, and generally very reliable. But like any technology, things can go wrong from time to time. If you receive an electronic prescription (eScript) from Qoctor, it will normally arrive as an SMS (text message) on your phone, or by email, if you chose that option. Open the SMS and present it in person at your local pharmacy, where the pharmacist can scan the barcode contained in the message.

What to do if the eScript “won’t scan”?

When an eScript “won’t scan” there are a few possible reasons. Try to get as much information from the pharmacy as you can, so the issue can be figured out.

• If an “error message” pops up on the pharmacy’s system, that may tell you and the pharmacist the exact problem – it is helpful to note this down, or take a photo of it, as Qoctor can investigate the issue better for you.
• When it flags that the prescription is “expired”, you’ll need a new prescription. Get in touch with Qoctor, via live chat (or email info@qoctor.com.au which we monitor 8AM to 9PM AEST). If this is an unexpected message, just make sure you have actually opened the correct eScript message on your phone!
• internet connectivity at the pharmacy- check internet coverage and try again.
• eRx, the government system that sends eScripts, may be having a technical issue. In this case, the message may state that the service is “unavailable” or something to that effect. In these situations, particularly if you can’t wait for erx to start working again, just get back in touch with Qoctor and we can try to arrange a prescription in another way.

Some pharmacies may offer a service to allow you enter eScripts online on their website. If this does not seem to work, we recommend presenting your ePrescription in person to the pharmacy, or else speaking to your pharmacist on the phone for further assistance.

How can Qoctor help?

For any issues the pharmacist is unable to resolve, please contact Qoctor customer service team (live chat, or email info@qoctor.com.au) and we’ll do our best to assist. When it is outside our control (e.g. the government’s eRx system is not working), we have some other ways to get a prescription to you or your pharmacy.

• Appointments with Qoctor are available within minutes, every day,  including public holidays. If you are in a rush, you can select a priority consult, and the doctor will call you within around 15 minutes.
• After your consultation,  we can send your ePrescription instantly to your mobile phone, as an SMS (text message). Then you just take the ePrescription to your nearest pharmacy and they will can scan the barcode token.
• You can also arrange to have your prescription sent to a local pharmacy for same-day collection.
• If you opt for a paper prescription by post, it usually takes a few days to arrive. For certain medications, direct delivery to your home is also available​.

At Qoctor, our prices reflect how long a certain type of consultation usually takes. Whenever we can help our patients save money by keeping our costs down, we do so.  Our consultation fees range from $24.99 to $49.99, depending on the issue.

• Contraceptive pill consult- $24.99
• Many common prescription (acne, asthma, migraine, acid reflux, UTI, sinusitis, men’s health etc)- $29.99
• Other repeat prescriptions – $31.99 for other repeat scripts.
• If a person is on more than three medications, is unsure of their needs, or has complex issues, we recommend a longer appointment with a GP ($49.99), as it usually takes more time to go through everything properly.

Yes, you can request a repeat prescription online with Qoctor.

• First you’ll need to register or log in, then select the service you need.
• After that, you’ll be asked to complete a short online health questionnaire, and a video/phone consultation with a doctor.
• The doctor will ensure that the treatment is still the right one for you, and that you are having no side effects or issues.
• Once approved by the doctor, you can receive an ePrescription to your phone. Alternatively, you can choose to have the prescription forwarded immediately to a pharmacy of your choice, or you can request a paper prescription to be posted to you.

Start <here>

Most online prescriptions do require a video consultation to make sure you get a proper check up, so the doctor can choose the appropriate treatment for your condition. Sometimes a phone call may be adequate. The AHPRA Medical Board, which sets standards for doctors, has made this very clear in its updated telehealth guidelines

Occasionally, if a doctor is caring for a patient who they know very well, it may be appropriate to prescribe treatment following text messages/email, but this is very much an exception.

How to request a prescription online

(1) Register or login to your Qoctor account. You’ll need to enter some details including name, date of birth, email address, postal address and a mobile phone number. You don’t need to have a Medicare card- but if you have one, it helps a lot, as it means we can send ePrescriptions which is very handy!

(2) If you know the medicine you need (e.g. a treatment you take regularly), go to the prescriptions tab and then search for your medication name. If you think you require a prescription for a condition but you’re not sure what exactly you need, then select the condition you think you have, OR just choose a GP telehealth appointment.

(3) Answer some simple online questions, then book an appointment time to speak to a doctor.

(4) The doctor will chat to you via video call or phone call, and can prescribe treatment based on your consultation. Note, the Australian Medical Board states it is mandatory for doctors to conduct a video or phone call before prescribing- any online provider not doing so should not be trusted!

(5) Receive an eScript to your phone, or request a paper prescription in the mail. You can also have a prescription sent to your nearest pharmacy.