Online prescribing policy
Can I ask a HerDoc GP for a prescription online?
Yes. During your HerDoc consultation, you can discuss a prescription request with an Australian GP. If your doctor decides it is clinically appropriate, they can issue a prescription or explain the safest next step.
Discussing a prescription with your doctor
During your HerDoc GP consultation, you can talk about a prescription you may need, including a medicine you have used before or a current treatment question.
Your doctor will consider your symptoms, history, current medicines, allergies and relevant safety factors. If prescribing is appropriate, your doctor can help with the prescription during the consult.
When online prescribing may not fit
Some prescription requests need more information, monitoring, examination, local testing, usual-GP follow-up, urgent care or in-person care before a safe decision can be made.
This can include urgent symptoms, unclear diagnoses, complex risk factors, controlled medicine requests, or situations where online care is not the safest setting.
Fees and external costs
Consult pricing starts from $49 AUD. Medicine costs, pharmacy dispensing fees, and other external provider costs are separate from the HerDoc consult unless clearly stated otherwise.
When telehealth may not be suitable
- controlled medicine requests
- urgent symptoms
- requests without enough information for safe assessment
- attempts to bypass usual monitoring or in-person care
When to seek urgent care
Call 000 or go to an emergency department for severe, sudden, rapidly worsening, or dangerous symptoms, including chest pain, stroke signs, severe breathing difficulty, fainting, severe bleeding, severe pain, suicidal thoughts, or immediate danger.
- controlled medicine requests
- urgent symptoms
- requests without enough information for safe assessment
- attempts to bypass usual monitoring or in-person care
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Related pages
FAQs
Is prescribing guaranteed?
No. Prescribing depends on GP assessment and may be declined if it is not clinically appropriate.
Can I discuss a prescription I have used before?
Yes. You can discuss a previous or current medicine during a HerDoc GP consultation. Your doctor will consider your history, current medicines, safety factors and whether prescribing is appropriate.
Can repeat prescription requests be discussed online?
Yes. You can discuss a repeat prescription request online. Your GP will still check that the request is suitable and clinically appropriate.
What if the GP says no?
The GP may explain why and recommend monitoring, follow-up, in-person review, urgent care, or another pathway.
Does HerDoc prescribe controlled medicines online?
Controlled medicine requests may not be suitable online and should not be treated as available through a routine HerDoc consult.
What happens if prescribing is clinically appropriate?
If the GP decides prescribing is appropriate, the GP will explain the next step. A medication request does not guarantee prescribing.
Are pharmacy costs included?
No. Medicine costs and pharmacy dispensing fees may be separate from the HerDoc consult fee.