Individual Healthcare Identifiers and eScripts

What is an Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI) number and why is it important to provide your IHI number?

An Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI) is a unique number used to identify an individual for health care purposes. You may already have an IHI if you have a myGov account for proof of vaccination. If you don't have an IHI you can obtain one online or by completing a form and sending it to Services Australia. Please refer to How to get an Individual Healthcare Identifier - Individual Healthcare Identifiers - Services Australia.

An IHI will enable you to receive eScripts, which is a convenient way to receive any medication which is prescribed to you.

You can call the Healthcare Identifiers Service on 1300 361 457 Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 5 pm AEST to check your details.

What is an electronic prescription?

Electronic prescriptions (escripts) provide convenience and choice to you, as well as improving drug safety.

An electronic prescription is a digital version of a paper prescription. During your consultation, your doctor can send your electronic prescription to you as an SMS or email.

What are the benefits of an escript?

• Convenience - All medicines can be prescribed using an electronic prescription. The message with a link to your electronic prescription is stored on your digital device, so you can access it whenever you’re ready - saving you time and streamlining the process of obtaining your medication.
• Greater choice – provides greater choice of which pharmacy you decide to have your medication dispensed – the control is in your hands.
• Improves medicine safety – electronic prescribing may reduce prescribing and dispensing errors.
• Better for the environment - removes the need for handling and storing a physical paper prescription.
• Privacy - maintains patient privacy and integrity of personal information.

How to get an electronic prescription

Immediately after your consultation your doctor will send your electronic prescription to you as an SMS or an email.

You can then take it to your pharmacy or send it to them.

If you have repeats, a new SMS or email will be sent to you when you get your medicine from the pharmacy.

If needed, you can forward the SMS or email to a family member or carer so they can collect your medicine on your behalf.

How to get your medicines

After your consultation and once you have received your electronic prescription, you will have two options to get your medicines.

• Collecting your medicine in person - Take your electronic prescription to a pharmacy so it can be scanned.
• Getting your medicine delivered – if your pharmacy provides home delivery, forward the SMS or email to a pharmacy so they can scan it.

If you accidentally deleted the SMS or email with your electronic prescription token, you can ask for it to be resent.  For original prescriptions, contact the Doctors on Demand Patient Concierge team at info@doctorsondemand.com.au. For repeats, contact the pharmacy that issued the repeat.