Is it possible for me to email my eScript to the pharmacy?

Yes, but only to the pharmacy's official email. Add your full name and DOB to the email so the pharmacist can verify your identity.

Can someone else pick up my medications?

Yes, you may authorise a trusted person to collect your medication. Send your SMS or email token to a trusted family member or carer who will take it to the pharmacy. Your pharmacist may ask them for identification and confirm that they have your permission to collect.

Do I need to bring my Medicare card?

Although Medicare details may be stored within pharmacy systems, it is still a good idea to have your physical card (or its digital version in the MyGov app) for your first visit to a new pharmacy to support the initial identity check.

What happens to the token after the pharmacy scans it?

After dispensing, the token is marked as used within the system and cannot be reused. When the prescription is repeated, the pharmacy will automatically send you a new token for the next supply.

How to Send an eScript to Your Pharmacy Safely

Key Takeaways

eScript tokens should be shared through secure, approved channels.
Identity verification is required before dispensing.
Publicly sharing QR codes increases privacy risks.
Tokens can be presented at participating pharmacies across Australia.
If a script cannot be located, it may have expired, been cancelled, or already dispensed.
Reissue requires review by the prescribing clinic.

As Australia's healthcare system is increasingly digitised, prescription management has evolved significantly. Instead of relying on paper prescriptions, prescriptions have been transformed into secure digital tokens. Along with the convenience of the digital token, this also calls for digital hygiene. When you give a pharmacy an eScript, you are effectively providing them with a secure access token that allows them to retrieve the specific prescription record, much like how medical certificate validation rules ensure the integrity of health documents.

At Prime Medic, our eScript & Prescription Access Hub is one way we facilitate this exchange through systems aligned with Australian electronic prescribing requirements. Whether you are using our telehealth GP appointment in Brisbane or another service, this guide walks you through the safest ways to manage your tokens.

Secure Ways to Share an eScript

You can send your eScript token from your device to the pharmacist via a secure, approved method. Using these channels supports secure transmission in accordance with electronic prescribing standards.

1. In-Person Scanning

Scanning the pharmacist's QR code on your screen is the easiest, most direct way to submit your prescription to the pharmacy. The pharmacist scans your eScript Token straight from the smartphone, displaying it on your screen. This allows the pharmacy system to retrieve the prescription record from the Prescription Delivery Service. This is the same secure method used for digital signature verification.

2. By SMS or Encrypted E-mail Forward

If you cannot come to the pharmacy in person, you can send the original Prime Medic email or SMS to the pharmacy.

SMS Forwarding: You can send the text message link to the pharmacy's official mobile number.
Email Forwarding: You can forward the email to the pharmacy's professional email address.

3. Dedicated Pharmacy Apps

Many Australian pharmacy chains offer secure apps that let you upload your tokens to a protected digital wallet. After verifying your token, the pharmacy will prepare your medication so you don't have to wait upon arrival. These password-protected environments support safe handling of eScript tokens and ensure your medication is prepared before you arrive.

Why Identity Confirmation Matters

There is a common misunderstanding that the token itself represents the medication. The token is only a link, not the medication itself. Identity verification is required before dispensing a telehealth prescription in accordance with pharmacy practice standards.

The Verification Check

When a token is scanned at the pharmacy, the pharmacy's electronic record is checked against the person's profile in its system. Most commonly, the following are the things to which the pharmacist will have a first-hand confirmation:

Your Full Name and Date of Birth.
Your Medicare or IHI (Individual Healthcare Identifiers) details.
Consent: If a carer is collecting medication on your behalf, the pharmacist must ensure you have given them digital prescription consent.

The entire identity verification process is covered before the eScript guide. This process ensures that even if the token is given to the wrong person, unauthorised individuals are less likely to obtain medication without appropriate identification.

Avoiding Risky Sharing Methods

The convenience of certain sharing methods might lead you to use them, but they are very risky for your health and privacy and are not recommended.

Risks of Public Sharing

Social Media: Do not share your eScript in any way on social media. Publicly sharing QR codes may increase the risk of unauthorised access.
Unsafe Screenshots: It is best not to store unencrypted screenshots of tokens in your main photo gallery. If your phone is connected to a public cloud, unauthorised access may occur if devices or cloud services are not secured.
Public Messaging Groups: Avoid sharing tokens in groups where many people can see and save the image.

Changing or Updating the Nominated Pharmacy

The eScript system's flexibility is one of its most attractive features. In fact, you may present your token at participating pharmacies across Australia, subject to local regulations.

How to Switch

Sometimes, after planning to go to one pharmacy, you change your mind and go to another:

Show the new pharmacy your token. You do not need to "cancel" the first pharmacy unless they have already started dispensing.
Updating Preferences: If you have an Active Script List (ASL), your new pharmacist can "nominate" themselves to view your list. This is a way to transfer management of your scripts to your new pharmacist and requires your consent in accordance with pharmacy and privacy requirements.

See for more Information on nominating your preferred pharmacy. If a script is missing, you may need to recover a lost eScript token through our clinical team.

If a Pharmacy Cannot locate an eScript

On two occasions, the pharmacist finds no record of the scanned token. Technically speaking, this is only possible in some cases:

Token Already Used: If the script is a single-fill that has already been dispensed, the link would be broken.
Prescription Cancelled: The prescription may have been cancelled if the doctor updated the treatment plan.
Service Downtime: A temporary system interruption within the Prescription Delivery Service (PDS).

What to Do

If the pharmacy cannot locate the script, ask them to confirm whether the token is displayed as "Expired" or "Already Dispensed." Should the problem persist, you will need to contact Prime Medic to review the prescription status and determine whether a reissue is appropriate.

For detailed information on the national infrastructure supporting these transfers, visit the Australian Digital Health Agency's "How Electronic Prescribing Works" page.

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Sending an eScript to Your Pharmacy Safely: A Step-by-Step Guide