Medication review and online prescribing policy
Direct answer
HerDoc offers medication review consultations where a GP may assess whether prescribing is clinically appropriate. A medication request does not guarantee a prescription, and some medicines or situations are not suitable for online prescribing.
Assessment before prescribing
A HerDoc medication review consultation is a clinical assessment, not a medicine-ordering pathway. The GP considers the patient’s history, current medicine use, allergies, side effects, interactions, monitoring needs, pregnancy or breastfeeding where relevant, and whether online care is safe.
Prescribing may be appropriate in some situations, but it is never guaranteed. The GP may decline the request, ask for more information, recommend monitoring, or advise in-person care.
Requests that may not be suitable online
Online prescribing may not be suitable for controlled medicine requests, urgent symptoms, unclear diagnoses, complex risk factors, requests needing examination, or situations needing monitoring before a decision.
HerDoc avoids medicine-specific workaround lists in public policy content. The safer public framing is that suitability depends on GP assessment.
medication review next steps where clinically appropriate
If prescribing is clinically appropriate, the GP will explain the next step. A medication request does not create an entitlement to receive a prescription.
If a request is declined
If prescribing is not appropriate, the GP may explain the reason and recommend follow-up, monitoring, a usual GP, in-person review, urgent care, or another pathway. A declined request can be a safety outcome when online prescribing would not be appropriate.
Fees and external costs
Consult pricing starts from $40 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.
What is a medication review consultation?
It is a consult where the GP reviews the medication request, history, safety factors, and whether online prescribing is appropriate.
Can repeat medication requests be reviewed online?
Some repeat medication questions may be reviewed online, but repeat does not mean automatic. The GP still assesses safety and suitability.
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.