Online Prescriptions2022-11-16T12:14:49+11:00

Online Prescription Service

Our doctors can provide a prescription for many common conditions. Following a simple assessment, we can forward your prescription electronically direct to your local pharmacy, via our “pharmacy concierge service” or you can choose to get a paper prescription in the post. For some treatments you can opt to have medication delivered to your door.

Get a prescription

Online prescription delivery options:

  • select our pharmacy concierge service- we can email a prescription direct to your local pharmacy, for same-day collection. We’ll even ring them first to make sure your medication is in stock.
  • order a paper prescription, to be posted to you.
  • some medications can be delivered by post (all medicines supplied by one of our Australian partner pharmacies).

How do I get started?

Search for your medication or condition here and complete the online assessment, then select the type of delivery you’d prefer.  You will usually need a brief online consultation with one of our doctors before the prescription is sent to you.

How much does the online prescription service cost?

A consultation for a prescription ranges from $24.99 to $31.99, depending on the type of appointment. Your prescription can then be emailed immediately to your local pharmacy or posted to you. A small delivery fee applies.

Some medications are available for delivery- if you choose to have medication delivered, the cost of the medication will be added to your cart.

Other popular online doctor services with Qoctor:

online doctor

 

book a prescription consultation

How to get an online prescription

1. Find your condition or medication

Start on our home page, and select the “prescriptions” option. From there, you can find your condition or else search for your medication by name.

2. Complete the online assessment

Answer a few simple questions about your health, which allow the doctor to assess relevant medical history in advance of providing a prescription.

3. Book an online consultation

For most prescriptions, it will also be necessary to have a brief video consultation, with one of our experienced doctors.

4. Choose your delivery option and get your prescription

Following your video consultation, the doctor can prescribe your medication- for quickest delivery, we can immediately send the prescription electronically to your pharmacy. Alternatively, it may be possible to request a paper prescription via post. For some medications, such as the contraceptive pill and Erectile Dysfunction medications, medication delivery is also available (where available, this option will be highlighted during booking).

Using an online doctor service – what you need to know

Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. many people are choosing to attend an online doctor.  Here at Qoctor, we’ve been providing online doctor services to Australians since 2015. It’s easy, convenient and can save time, money and the spread of infection. People who are using an online doctor for the first time often have questions about how the service works. Here are some of the most common queries we receive:

Can an online doctor make a proper assessment without a physical examination?

Yes. In most situations, a doctor can reach a diagnosis by taking a careful patient history. Based on this information, they may decide to issue treatment. However, in some cases physical examination or further tests may be required. If our online doctor believe a physical examination and/or tests are necessary in your case, they will advise you to see a doctor in person, and you will be refunded.

Will my online doctor have the same qualifications as a normal doctor?

Yes, all doctors on the Qoctor team are fully qualified, and experienced in clinic and hospital-based medicine. They are registered with AHPRA– their registration details will appear on any Qoctor prescription, medical certificate or referral letter you receive from us. With Qoctor, you can rest assured that your service will always be delivered by a registered Australian doctor.

Will I need to speak to the doctor?

It depends on the service you need.  For many of our online prescription services, you’ll need to complete some questions though in most cases, a brief telephone or video consultation may also be required. For our medical certificate service, you’ll always need to speak to one of our doctors, via video consultation.

GET A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE for $24.99

FAQs- online prescriptions & medications

How can I request a prescription?2023-06-18T20:49:10+10:00

With Qoctor, it is possible to book a same day telehealth appointment. If you wish to request a prescription for a medication you take regularly, you can either search for it by the condition, or by the name of the medication, and then answer some questions about your health.

Telehealth assessments are also available for conditions such as suspected UTI, sore throat, sinusitis. The doctor will ask about your symptoms and will go through your medical history. If a prescription is recommended, this can be sent electronically to your pharmacy, via our Pharmacy Concierge Service- we can coordinate getting your script to your local pharmacy immediately, we’ll check their stock and we’ll contact you once it’s ready to be dispensed. Alternatively you can have a paper prescription sent by Australia Post to an address or pharmacy of your choice. Qoctor can also deliver certain medications directly via post from our Australian partner pharmacies- this will be shown as a delivery option where applicable, and includes the contraceptive pill, medication for erectile dysfunction, hair loss, jet lag, delaying a period, premature ejaculation, genital herpes, bacterial vaginosis and chlamydia treatment. 

Please note, all treatment and advice is issued subject to your consultation and doctor’s assessment. 

 

Do I need to speak to a doctor to request a prescription?2023-06-18T21:12:08+10:00

In Australia, in almost all circumstances, a doctor needs to have a consultation with a patient before issuing a prescription. This assessment can take place in person, or via telehealth (using video conferencing or by telephone). This is to ensure the patient’s symptoms and medical history are properly reviewed and discussed, and that the most appropriate treatment option is selected. “Asynchronous” consultations, for example, done via text message or questionnaire, without speaking to a doctor, are generally no longer allowed and in most situations are not covered from a medicolegal perspective.

How much does it cost to have a prescription delivered?2023-06-18T21:15:14+10:00

Delivery options are as follows:

    • Standard shipping (5-7 business days) costs $11.99
    • Express post (1-2 business days) costs $14.99- note, Australia Post is not necessarily able to guarantee these delivery timelines at present.
    • Our Pharmacy Concierge Service fee is less than standard delivery, at $8.99, and means we will immediately send your prescription electronically to your local pharmacy, so you can have your medication in your hands within a few hours. As postal delivery has been less reliable in recent times, we recommend this delivery option.

Please note, all treatment and advice is issued subject to your consultation and doctor’s assessment.

 

How much does it cost to deliver medication?2023-06-18T21:19:50+10:00
    • If you have requested to have medication delivered by post (available for a limited range of treatments, as advised during the booking process), the total cost at checkout will include the doctor’s consultation fee, the price of your medication, plus delivery/postage.
    • The price of medication depends of the type and quantity of medication, and may vary subject to market forces which Qoctor can’t control.
    • Standard Post is $11.99 and Express Post is $14.99 If you require your treatment more urgently, instead of having medication delivered, you may prefer to try the Pharmacy Concierge Service. For $8.99 (less than standard delivery) we can send a prescription electronically to your local pharmacy, so you can have your prescription in your hands within a few hours. This is usually the fasted and cheapest delivery option.
Can I track my delivery?2023-06-18T21:21:44+10:00

Qoctor uses Australia Post- following your telehealth appointment, if a prescription medication is issued by the doctor and you choose to have medication delivered, you will receive an email with a link to track your parcel’s location.

Can Qoctor arrange for delivery of medications?2023-06-18T21:29:16+10:00

Please note, all treatment and advice is issued subject to your consultation and doctor’s assessment. 

If a prescription is issued by the doctor:

    • you can choose to have a paper prescription posted to you (Australia Post standard delivery $11.99, express delivery $14.99) OR
    • For some treatments you can choose to get the actual medication (tablets) posted to you- this includes the contraceptive pill, treatment for erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, genital herpes, chlamydia, bacterial vaginosis, jet lag, hair loss or to delay a period (Australia Post standard delivery $11.99, express delivery $14.99) OR
    • Alternatively, instead of having medication delivered, you may prefer to try our Pharmacy Concierge Service as a faster and cheaper delivery option. For $8.99 delivery fee, we can send a prescription electronically to your local pharmacy, so you can have your prescription in your hands within a few hours.  This is the most popular delivery option due to speed and cost.

Please note that Australia Post delivery times have become less predictable. In the past, standard delivery was usually said to take 5-7 business days and express delivery was said to take 1-2 days, however these times may vary from time to time. Check the Australia Post website for further information relating to expected delivery times in your state/territory.

Can the doctor provide repeats on my prescription?2023-06-18T21:40:50+10:00

Following a telehealth appointment, the doctor may issue a prescription. It is common for doctors to include a number of “repeats” on a prescription, allowing the patient to return to the pharmacy for further supply of the medication. The number of “repeats” included by the doctor depends on several factors, such as the type of medication, the nature of the patient’s condition, the medical history of the patient, and whether the patient needs to have any tests, examination or monitoring before their next prescription.

If you are having a telehealth appointment and a prescription is being discussed, the doctor will usually advise you how many repeats they are intending to include. If you are unsure, just ask the doctor.

In Australia, most prescriptions stay valid for 12 months from the original date of issue. After that, any repeats that have not been used up will expire- i.e. the prescription is no longer active or useable. You need to have a consultation with a doctor to arrange any further prescriptions.

How can I get a repeat on my prescription/medication?2023-06-18T21:52:04+10:00

If you have ordered medication delivery (which is available for a certain number of conditions including the contraceptive pill, treatment for erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation and hair loss), there may be some repeats available, which you can activate via your Qoctor account. To access these, log in to your Qoctor profile. Alongside previous orders, you may then see an option to order a repeat, if available. There is no additional doctor fee to access this repeat, however there will be a small fee to cover delivery/postage of the medication. Once payment has been completed the medication can be sent by Australia Post. The price of medication may vary from time to time, subject to market forces which Qoctor can’t control.

Also, please be aware that if you got the original (paper) prescription posted to you, or sent to your local pharmacy using the Pharmacy Concierge Service, then any repeats the doctor included at the time would have been present on that prescription. Qoctor does not retain the prescription or the repeats- i.e. the repeats will NOT be available to activate via your Qoctor account, as they are on the original script. Instead, check the paper prescription if you still have it, or speak to your pharmacist if they have retained the prescription for you.

All prescriptions expire after 12 months, and in this case, a new doctor’s appointment is always needed if you want to access a further prescription.

Who supplies the medication, if I have ordered medication delivery?2023-06-18T21:55:54+10:00
    • If, following your consultation with the doctor, a prescription item is recommended and you have chosen medication delivery via Qoctor, this will be delivered from an Australian Pharmacy who is working in partnership with Qoctor. As these pharmacies are independently operated, the price of medications may change from time to time.
    • Our pharmacists must adhere to strict national standards, ensuring all medications are genuine and issued with appropriate instructions on use.
How do I know the medications are genuine?2023-06-18T22:04:01+10:00

If you chose to have medication delivered, you can rest assured this will be dispensed and delivered in Australia, by a fully registered Australian Pharmacist. meeting all Australian regulatory standards. During the booking and assessment process, you will have the option of a choosing between a branded medication and the cheaper generic equivalent. If there are ever supply issues relating to your medication (this can occur from time to time and is beyond our control), the Qoctor customer service team will get in touch with you to discuss any potential suitable alternatives.

Please note, all treatment and advice is issued subject to your consultation and doctor’s assessment.

What is the difference between generic and branded medication?2023-06-18T22:07:03+10:00
    • Medications can be supplied as either generic or branded medications
    • Generic medicines have the same active ingredient as brand-name medicines and work in the same way, but may look different and/or contain different non-active ingredients.
    • Generic alternatives are often cheaper than brand-name medicines. This is because the producer of the medicine did not need to invest money in developing and marketing a generic version.
    • In Australia, you can only sell a generic medicine if it works the same way as the brand-name medicine.
    • Prescribers in Australia must include the name of the active ingredient on prescriptions. This helps you know exactly what you are taking and may help to avoid errors.
Can I get a PBS prescription?2023-06-18T22:11:44+10:00

Qoctor is able to provide PBS prescriptions. Prescribing criteria apply, which are set out by the PBS, and doctors must adhere to these. Please note, all treatment and advice is issued subject to your consultation and doctor’s assessment. Some medications are available on the PBS for certain conditions but not for others- in such cases, a private (non PBS) prescription may still be possible.

Streamlined PBS authority prescriptions and authority prescriptions can also be issued, in suitable cases.

Reviews from TrustPilot

“Fantastic Great experience!”

Rhiannon, Patient

“Quick, convenient and professional”

Matthew, Patient

“Very helpful! They’re a new service, and seem committed to helping. Friendly doctor and pretty straightforward. Very happy with it……lots of innovations coming up by the sound of it!”

Sep, Patient

4.6 out of 5
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