If your doctor has mentioned sending your prescription to your phone, that is an eScript. They have become the standard way prescriptions are issued in Australia, and they work at almost any pharmacy, not just one linked to your doctor.
Here is the one-sentence version: an eScript is an electronic prescription sent to you as a token, usually by SMS, with a QR code that almost any Australian pharmacy can scan to dispense your medication; it has the same legal standing as a paper script.
This guide explains how eScripts work, how repeats are handled, what the Active Script List is, and how to get one by telehealth.
How an eScript works
When a prescriber issues an eScript, you receive a unique token, typically by SMS or email, containing a QR code. At the pharmacy, you show the token on your phone; the pharmacist scans the code and dispenses your medication. There is no paper script to carry or lose.
A few practical points:
- You can use almost any pharmacy. Nearly all Australian pharmacies can dispense an eScript, so it is not tied to a particular store; take it wherever is convenient, including pharmacies that offer home delivery.
- You show it from your phone. No printing is needed, though you can print the token if you prefer.
- One token per supply. If your prescription includes repeats, you are sent a fresh token for the next supply once the previous one is dispensed.
eScripts are part of Australia's national digital health infrastructure, overseen by the Australian Digital Health Agency, and are accepted at pharmacies across the country.
Original prescriptions and repeats
It helps to understand the difference between an original eScript and a repeat. The original is the first supply of a medication. If your prescriber authorises repeats, each repeat lets you obtain a further supply without a new consultation, within the prescription's validity period. When all repeats are used, you need a new prescription for continued treatment.
For most medications, an original prescription is valid for 12 months from the date it is written, and repeats are dispensed one at a time over that period.
The Active Script List
Keeping track of multiple SMS tokens can be fiddly if you take several medications. The Active Script List (ASL) solves this: it is a national service that stores your active eScripts digitally in one place. Once you register, a participating pharmacy can look up your available prescriptions with your permission, so you do not need to find each individual token. You can manage your ASL through your My Health Record or with your pharmacy.
How to get an eScript
You can get an eScript from any Australian prescriber, including through telehealth. After a telehealth consultation, an Australian-registered GP can issue an eScript to your phone if a prescription is clinically appropriate, whether it is a new medication or a repeat prescription. NewDoc does not prescribe Schedule 8 or Schedule 4D controlled medicines via telehealth, and the GP will advise if you need to be seen in person.
Where NewDoc fits
NewDoc is a pure telehealth general practice. After a consultation with an Australian-trained, FRACGP-qualified GP, any prescription is sent to your phone as an eScript you can fill at almost any pharmacy. The consultation is bulk billed, $0 out of pocket for eligible Medicare cardholders, with a private fee for patients without Medicare eligibility. You still pay the pharmacy's price for the medication itself, which may be a PBS co-payment or a retail price.
You can book a telehealth appointment or read more about repeat prescriptions online.
References
- Australian Digital Health Agency, Electronic prescriptions
- Australian Digital Health Agency, Active Script List
- Services Australia, Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
Frequently asked questions
What is an eScript?
An eScript (electronic prescription) is a digital version of a paper prescription. Instead of a paper script, your prescriber sends you a unique token, usually by SMS or email, with a QR code. You show the token at almost any Australian pharmacy, the pharmacist scans it, and they dispense your medication. It has the same legal standing as a paper prescription.
How do I use an eScript at the pharmacy?
Show the SMS or email with the QR code on your phone screen at the pharmacy counter, or forward it to a pharmacy that offers delivery. The pharmacist scans the code and dispenses your medication. You do not need to print anything. If your prescription has repeats, you are sent a new token for the next supply after each one is dispensed.
What is the Active Script List?
The Active Script List (ASL) is a national service that stores your active eScripts in one place, so you do not have to keep track of individual SMS tokens. Once you register, a participating pharmacy can look up your available prescriptions with your consent. It is useful if you take several medications or have repeats across different conditions.
Can I get an eScript through telehealth?
Yes. After a telehealth consultation, an Australian-registered GP can send an eScript straight to your phone if a prescription is clinically appropriate. You then fill it at almost any pharmacy. NewDoc does not prescribe Schedule 8 or Schedule 4D controlled medicines via telehealth, and the GP will tell you if you need to be seen in person.
How long is an eScript valid?
For most medications, an original prescription is valid for 12 months from the date it is written, the same as a paper script. Any repeats are valid within that period. Some medicines have shorter validity or limits on repeats. Your prescriber and the dispensing pharmacist can confirm what applies to your specific medication.
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Last reviewed 25 June 2026. Editorial policy
Written by
Chief Medical Officer, NewDoc
A practising GP with over a decade of clinical experience, specialising in allergies, metabolic health, and chronic disease management.