How to Get an Antibiotic Prescription Online in Australia

Not every infection can be assessed via telehealth, but many common bacterial conditions can be treated without an in-person visit. Conditions routinely assessed online include:

• Uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) in adult women
• Simple skin infections (infected cuts, mild impetigo, early localised cellulitis with photo)
• Bacterial sinusitis lasting more than 10 days with specific symptom patterns
• Some respiratory tract infections where bacterial cause is clinically evident

The key distinction is "uncomplicated." If your infection is spreading rapidly, if you have a high fever with systemic symptoms, or if you are immunocompromised, you need in-person care. The doctor will advise you if this applies.

• Complete the online consultation form. Describe your symptoms, how long they have been present, and any relevant medical history including allergies, current medications, and recent antibiotic use.
• An [AHPRA-registered doctor](/our-doctors "Our doctors") reviews your case. They assess the clinical evidence to determine whether antibiotics are appropriate and which antibiotic is safest given your history.
• If antibiotics are clinically indicated, your eScript is issued. The prescription is sent as a digital token to your phone via SMS.
• Fill at any pharmacy. Show the pharmacist the SMS token. They scan it, dispense the medication, and apply your PBS subsidy automatically.

The form takes 2 to 3 minutes to complete. Most requests receive a clinical decision within 1 to 2 hours during operating hours (8am to 10pm AEST, 7 days a week).

A thorough consultation produces better clinical outcomes and reduces back-and-forth. Be prepared to provide:

• Symptom details: what symptoms you have, when they started, how they have progressed, and how severe they are
• Allergy history: any known medication or antibiotic allergies, including what reaction you experienced
• Current medications: including over-the-counter products and supplements
• Recent antibiotic use: if you have taken antibiotics in the last few months, the doctor needs this to select the most appropriate treatment
• Photos for skin infections: clear images of the affected area help the doctor assess severity accurately

Accurate information leads to better prescribing decisions. Withholding allergy history is a patient safety risk.

Two costs are involved: the consultation and the medication at the pharmacy.

• [Consultation fee](/consult "Start a general consultation"): the standard consultation fee covers the doctor's review. This is separate from any pharmacy costs.
• Medication at pharmacy: most commonly prescribed antibiotics are PBS-listed. General patients pay up to $31.60 per script. Concession card holders pay up to $7.70. Without Medicare, you pay the full price, typically $15 to $40 for common antibiotics.

The PBS subsidy applies regardless of whether the prescription came from a telehealth service or an in-person GP. The consultation fee and medication cost are entirely independent.

The eScript is an electronic prescription issued under the same regulatory framework as a paper prescription and accepted by all Australian pharmacies.

When a doctor issues your antibiotic script:

• You receive an SMS with a QR code or token number
• Take the SMS to any pharmacy - you do not need to go to a specific one
• The pharmacist scans the code to access the full prescription details
• Unused scripts remain linked to your token number - you do not need to fill them immediately

If the prescription includes repeats, the token remains active for each refill until the repeats are used or the 12-month prescription expiry is reached. Learn more about how eScripts work if this is your first time using one.

Telehealth has clinical limits. A responsible doctor will direct you to in-person care if:

• You have a fever above 38.5 degrees Celsius with systemic symptoms such as rigors or confusion
• The infection involves the eyes, ears (particularly in children), or deep tissue
• Redness is spreading rapidly, or there is significant swelling or pus formation
• You are pregnant, under 18, or significantly immunocompromised
• Your symptoms suggest a sexually transmitted infection requiring laboratory testing
• Your condition did not improve on a previous antibiotic course for the same infection

Receiving a referral to in-person care is the correct outcome in these situations, not a failure of the service. The doctor's job is to get you appropriate care, not to prescribe on request.

If antibiotics are prescribed, take the full course as directed. Stopping early because you feel better is one of the mechanisms driving antibiotic resistance at the individual level. Partially resistant bacteria can survive incomplete treatment and multiply.

If you experience concerning side effects such as a rash, difficulty breathing, or severe gastrointestinal symptoms, contact your prescribing doctor or seek in-person care. Do not simply stop the antibiotics without medical advice.

For more on why antibiotic stewardship matters and how to know when antibiotics are appropriate, see our detailed guide.