Medications
How to send an electronic prescription to a pharmacy
Received an eScript by SMS or email? Learn how to send your token to a pharmacy, manage your repeats and recover a lost electronic prescription.
An electronic prescription, or eScript, is a digital alternative to a paper prescription. It allows your pharmacy to access your prescription using a secure electronic token.
What does an eScript look like?
Your prescriber will usually send your electronic prescription by SMS or email. The message contains a link that opens a unique QR code known as a token.
You will normally receive a separate token for each medicine prescribed.
Before finishing your appointment, check that the SMS or email has arrived and that you can open the token.
How to send your eScript
You can send an electronic prescription to your chosen pharmacy by:
- Opening the SMS or email from your prescriber.
- Opening the link containing the QR-code token.
- Forwarding the original message or token to the pharmacy using its accepted method.
- Telling the pharmacy whether you would like collection or delivery, if available.
- Waiting for the pharmacy to confirm that your prescription has been reviewed and prepared.
You can also show the token on your phone when visiting the pharmacy. The pharmacist scans the token to securely access the prescription.
What happens to my repeats?
After a medicine is dispensed, the original token has been used and should not be reused.
If repeats remain, the pharmacy will issue a new token for the next supply. Keep the new SMS or email until you need your medicine again.
What if I lose or delete my token?
If you lose the token for an original prescription, contact the prescriber and ask for it to be resent.
If you lose a repeat token, contact the pharmacy that dispensed the previous supply.
Can somebody else use my token?
You can forward the token to a trusted family member, carer or other representative so they can present it to the pharmacy on your behalf.
Treat an eScript token as sensitive health information. Send it only to a pharmacy or person you trust, and avoid posting or sharing it publicly.
Managing multiple eScripts
If you regularly take several medicines, an Active Script List may make your prescriptions easier to manage. With your consent, a participating pharmacy can access the active prescriptions on your list without you having to keep track of every individual token.
Ask our pharmacists whether an Active Script List may be suitable for you.
Ready to send your eScript?
Send your electronic prescription to House of Pharmacy or contact your preferred pharmacy for help.
Your medicine will only be supplied after pharmacist review. Timing, availability, delivery and prescription requirements may vary.
Send an eScript
Contact House of Pharmacy
This article provides general information. Keep taking your medicines as directed and speak with your doctor or pharmacist before making any changes.
Further information: Australian Digital Health Agency — Electronic prescriptions
