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Hobart and Southern Tasmania have limited after-hours doctor options. InstantMed bridges the gap, giving you access to Australian-registered doctors seven days a week without leaving your home.
240K+
Greater Hobart area
4–8 days
Tasmania has significant GP shortages
~55%
Well below national average
Critical
Tasmania has the oldest GP workforce in Australia
Tasmania faces some of Australia's most acute healthcare challenges. The state has the oldest population and the oldest GP workforce of any Australian state or territory. As GPs retire and practices close, Tasmanians are finding it increasingly difficult to access primary care. Hobart's bulk-billing rate hovers around 55%, and in some suburbs, finding a GP accepting new patients is nearly impossible.
Greater Hobart stretches from Bridgewater in the north to Kingston in the south, with the CBD, Sandy Bay, and the Eastern Shore making up the core. Traffic across the Tasman Bridge can add significant time to any cross-city GP visit. For residents of the Northern Suburbs (Glenorchy, Moonah, New Town), GP options are better, but wait times remain long.
Tasmania's healthcare workforce shortage extends beyond GPs. The Royal Hobart Hospital's emergency department - the state's largest - regularly reports long wait times for non-urgent presentations. Many of these ED visits are for conditions that could be managed in primary care, if primary care were accessible. Telehealth reduces this pressure by providing an alternative pathway for low-acuity needs.
Hobart's growing tourism and hospitality sector - fuelled by MONA, the city's restaurant scene, and Tasmania's broader appeal - employs thousands of workers with irregular schedules. When a hospitality worker in Salamanca or the waterfront calls in sick, getting a same-day GP appointment can be difficult. Telehealth provides documentation without the wait.
University of Tasmania (UTAS) students at the Sandy Bay and Inveresk campuses need certificates for academic support during exam periods. The UTAS medical service is stretched, and external GP availability near campus is limited. TasTAFE students face similar challenges across their Hobart and Launceston campuses.
Tasmania's public service - the state's largest employer - requires medical certificates for sick leave in line with the Tasmanian State Service Award. Telehealth certificates from AHPRA-registered doctors meet these requirements. The same applies to federal public servants working in Tasmania's Commonwealth agencies.
Tasmanian employers follow the Fair Work Act 2009 for medical certificate requirements. There is no Tasmanian legislation that differentiates between telehealth and in-person certificates. The Tasmanian State Service Award accepts certificates from registered medical practitioners without specifying consultation method.
For hospitality and tourism workers under the Hospitality Industry General Award, medical certificates are commonly required for absences of more than one day. Telehealth certificates meet this requirement. For workers in aquaculture, forestry, and agriculture - key Tasmanian industries - the same Fair Work protections apply.
UTAS accepts certificates from any AHPRA-registered doctor for academic support. This includes telehealth consultations. The university's policy focuses on the legitimacy of the practitioner, not the consultation format.
Hobart and Greater Hobart have approximately 60 community pharmacies, with the majority concentrated in the CBD (Elizabeth Street, Liverpool Street), Sandy Bay, Glenorchy, and Kingston. All pharmacies accept eScripts. When InstantMed issues a prescription, the QR code works at any Tasmanian pharmacy - from the CBD to Bruny Island.
Extended-hours pharmacy options are more limited in Hobart than in mainland capitals, but several locations in the CBD and at Eastlands Shopping Centre (Rosny) operate until 8–9pm. For urgent medication needs, the Royal Hobart Hospital pharmacy provides 24-hour dispensing for emergency prescriptions.
Tasmania follows national AHPRA standards for telehealth. The Tasmanian Government has been a strong advocate for telehealth, recognising its critical role in addressing the state's GP shortage and geographic challenges. Tasmania's Digital Health Strategy includes telehealth as a priority area for healthcare access improvement.
Prescribing in Tasmania follows the TGA national framework. The Tasmanian Poisons Act aligns with national scheduling for controlled substances. Most medications can be prescribed via telehealth, with eScripts accepted at all Tasmanian pharmacies. Schedule 8 medications require Tasmanian Department of Health authority.
The Health Complaints Commissioner Tasmania oversees complaints about health services including telehealth. InstantMed maintains a formal complaints process - complaints@instantmed.com.au - with a 14-day response commitment.
No appointment needed. Reviewed by AHPRA-registered Australian doctors.
Answer a few quick questions about your health concern
An Australian doctor reviews your request when available
Certificate, script, or referral sent to your phone
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