Electronic Prescriptions (ePrescriptions)

An Overview

What is an ePrescription?

An ePrescription (or eScript) is a digital version of a paper prescription. Authorised prescribers can send ePrescriptions to your patients via SMS or email.

Under the Health Drugs and Poisons Regulation, an ePrescription can only be created by authorised prescribers in the ‘approved form’, using a prescribing system that complies with the Agency’s conformance process. Both electronic and paper prescriptions must comply with the relevant Commonwealth and state and territory legislation requirements.

Your patients will be able to choose how they receive their prescriptions either electronically or in a paper-based form (but not both). ePrescriptions still support your patients' right to choose their preferred prescriber and/or pharmacy to supply their medicines.

To dispense ePrescriptions, you will need the capability built into your dispense software.

How will patients present their ePrescriptions?

The Token Model

A patient visits their doctor and requires a prescription.
If the patient chooses to, they will receive their prescription electronically via SMS or email. The SMS or email will include a token e.g. a QR code, which the patient will present at their local pharmacy.
Your team will need to scan the token to view the ePrescription and supply the medicine.
If the prescription has repeats, a new token is provided to the patient via SMS or email by the pharmacy.

What is an Active Script List (ASL)?

A patient may want their ePrescriptions in a consolidated list so that they can be more easily managed. The ASL is a list of all active prescriptions and repeats available to be dispensed. An ASL removes the need for the patient to receive their tokens via SMS or email and retain their tokens.

The ASL is currently in development. We will notify our members as soon as information becomes available.

How can you prepare? Register now!

Ensure your pharmacy has a Healthcare Provider Identifier-Organisation (HPI-O) and is connected to the Health Identifiers Service; this is a core requirement for ePrescribing. If you have not yet registered, please click here for more information about registering.
Ensure your pharmacy is connected to an open prescription delivery service via a prescription exchange service. Existing prescription exchange services include eRx and MediSecure.
Ensure that QR codes are compatible with your barcode scanners, following your manufacturer’s instructions. Refer to this factsheet for more information.
Ensure that your patients’ and carers’ five (5) points of identification are up to date
- Medicare Card number or DVA number
- First Name
- Last Name
- Date of Birth
- Email address or mobile phone number
Ensure all pharmacy staff members are well-informed in ePrescribing, including potential patient questions and queries. Refer to the resources and guides below or contact your Business Support Team for assistance.

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Resources and Guides

College CPD Library Online Guides

The following College CPD Library online guides are short to complete and free to access for all pharmacy staff with a College login:

Introducing ePrescriptions

Preparing for ePrescriptions

Using ePrescriptions

College accounts are free to set-up at guilded.guild.org.au.

Fact Sheet for Dispensers

This fact sheet can be shared with all pharmacy staff and covers the key points of the ePrescription process.

ePrescriptions Fact Sheet: An Overview for Dispensers

Patient-Facing Collateral

You can order patient-facing collateral through the Australian Digital Health Agency ePrescriptions toolkit.

Order patient-facing collateral

In addition, your Guild has developed several ready-to-use resources and posters.

Download Guild ePrescriptions resources and posters

Relevant Health Drugs and Poisons Regulation Sections

An electronic prescription generated by conformant software does not require any handwriting as it is never printed and remains virtual. The conformant software requires that you have a unique login and it will attach your Health Provider Identifier – Individual (HPI-I) and the Health Provider Identifier – Organisation (HPI-O) as well as your PBS prescriber number to the string of information that is sent as the ePrescription. This replaces your handwritten signature on a paper prescription. Using conformant software will mean that your ePrescriptions should include the requirements under HDPR section 79 for prescriptions for controlled drugs (Schedule 8 medicines).

The relevant sections for review in relation to ePrescriptions include s79, s84A, s190, and s193.

View the current version of the Health Drugs and Poisons Regulation