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Both telehealth and in-person GP visits have their place in modern healthcare. Here's an honest comparison to help you choose the right option for your situation.
Telehealth and in-person GPs complement each other. Use telehealth for convenience and straightforward issues. See your GP for complex conditions, physical examinations, and ongoing care. Many people use both — telehealth when they need something quick, GP visits for comprehensive care.
An honest guide to choosing the right healthcare option for your situation.
Telehealth in Australia operates under the same regulatory framework as in-person medicine. Every telehealth doctor must hold current AHPRA registration, and the Medical Board of Australia's guidelines on telehealth consultations apply equally to online and in-person care. This means the clinical standards you receive through telehealth should be identical to what you'd get sitting in a GP's office.
The TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) regulates prescribing regardless of the consultation format. Telehealth doctors follow the same prescribing rules, can't prescribe controlled substances without appropriate assessment, and must document their clinical reasoning. The difference is the delivery method, not the regulatory standard.
One area where regulation is still catching up is cross-border prescribing. Australian telehealth services can only treat patients physically located in Australia, and prescribing laws vary slightly between states — though for common conditions and standard medications, these differences rarely matter in practice.
The clinical question isn't whether telehealth is 'real medicine' — it is. The question is whether your specific issue can be safely assessed without hands-on examination. Upper respiratory infections, urinary symptoms, mental health check-ins, repeat prescriptions, and medical certificates are all well-suited to telehealth. These conditions rely primarily on your history and reported symptoms, not on physical findings.
In-person GP visits become necessary when examination changes the clinical picture. A sore throat is fine for telehealth, but persistent abdominal pain needs palpation. A rash you can photograph works online, but a suspicious mole needs a dermoscope. The best approach is to start with the question: does this condition require someone to physically examine me?
For ongoing chronic conditions, the answer is usually 'both.' Your regular GP manages the long-term plan, runs periodic blood tests, and adjusts treatment. Telehealth fills the gaps — when you need a script renewed between appointments, or a quick certificate when you're too unwell to visit the clinic.
The headline price is simple: bulk-billed GPs are free at the point of service; telehealth costs money out of pocket. But the full cost picture is more nuanced. The average private GP consultation in Australia costs $40-80 after any Medicare rebate, and many Australians no longer have access to a bulk-billing GP — particularly in metro areas where bulk billing has declined sharply.
Then there are the hidden costs of GP visits: travel time, fuel or public transport fares, parking, and time off work. For someone earning an average wage, a two-hour round trip to the GP (including waiting room time) represents $60-80 in lost productivity. A telehealth consultation that takes 10 minutes to complete suddenly looks more economical.
There's an irony in healthcare privacy: sitting in a GP waiting room is one of the least private experiences in medicine. Everyone can see you're there, and conversations at the reception desk aren't always discreet. Telehealth, by contrast, lets you consult from wherever you're comfortable — no one knows you sought medical attention unless you tell them.
On the digital side, reputable telehealth services encrypt personal health information both in transit and at rest. The Australian Privacy Act's health-specific provisions (the Australian Privacy Principles) apply to telehealth providers just as they do to GP clinics. The key difference is that telehealth creates a digital record from the start, while GP clinics vary widely in how they store and protect patient data.
If privacy matters to you — whether for stigmatised conditions, workplace sensitivity, or personal preference — telehealth offers a level of discretion that's difficult to match in a physical clinic setting.
All clinical decisions are made by AHPRA-registered doctors following our clinical governance framework. We never automate clinical decisions.
For appropriate conditions, telehealth can be just as effective. Many health issues don't require physical examination. The key is knowing which option suits your needs — telehealth is great for convenience and simple issues, while GPs are better for complex or ongoing care.
Telehealth consultations create medical records, but they're not automatically shared with your GP. You can request a summary to share with your GP, or inform them about any diagnoses or prescriptions you received.
Telehealth doctors can prescribe most common medications, including repeat scripts. However, some medications (controlled substances, those needing monitoring) may require an in-person assessment.
Yes, we recommend it. A regular GP provides continuity of care, knows your full history, and can manage complex or chronic conditions. Telehealth is best used as a complement to, not replacement for, ongoing GP care.
They should be, and you should always verify. Every doctor on InstantMed is fully registered with AHPRA (the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency). If a telehealth service doesn't confirm this, that's a reason to look elsewhere.
Reputable telehealth services use encryption and follow Australian Privacy Act requirements for handling health data. InstantMed encrypts all personal health information and stores data on Australian servers. Always check a provider's privacy policy before sharing medical details.
Yes. Telehealth doctors can write referrals for specialists, pathology, and imaging — the same as a GP. However, your specialist may still want to see you in person for the actual consultation, depending on your condition.
A reasonable rule of thumb: if you could describe the problem over the phone and the doctor wouldn't need to touch you, it's probably suitable. Cold and flu symptoms, repeat scripts, medical certificates, and skin concerns visible in photos are all good fits. Chest pain, severe injuries, or breathing difficulties need in-person or emergency care.
A responsible telehealth service will tell you when your issue needs in-person care. At InstantMed, if a doctor can't safely help through telehealth, they'll advise you to see a GP or attend an emergency department — and you'll receive a full refund.
If your GP bulk bills, then yes — telehealth will cost more in dollar terms. But if you factor in travel costs, time off work, and the convenience of being seen from home, many people find telehealth a reasonable trade-off. Private GP consultations often cost $40-80 out of pocket, which makes the comparison closer.
Most telehealth services, including InstantMed, are designed for patients aged 18 and over. Some services offer paediatric telehealth, but for children, an in-person GP is generally the better option — kids are harder to assess remotely and often need physical examination.
Yes. A medical certificate issued by an AHPRA-registered doctor through telehealth is legally identical to one from an in-person visit. The Fair Work Act doesn't distinguish between the two. Your employer must accept it.
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Get startedThis information is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making decisions about your health. Content on this page has been reviewed by AHPRA-registered Australian doctors but does not replace a personalised medical consultation.