Frequently Asked Questions

The following steps are required to get an online medical certificate:

•  Fill out an application form and mention the reason for the absence. 
• After submission, you are redirected to the payment portal. 
• Online telehealth consultation for assessment. 
• After the review, upon approval by the online doctor, your medical health certificate will be shared on the given email address

The medical certificate should be comprised of the following details:

• Name of the patient.
• Medical Assessment Date 
• The medical practitioner gave the date for the return to work.

*Detailed information is provided as per the requirement of the patient.

This decision depends upon the telehealth consultation after the form submission. If the online doctor decides to certify the patient unfit within a few hours you will get the medical certificate in your inbox.

*Point to mention: Approval is subject to the doctor’s discretion and advise.

Carer’s leave allows employees to take time off to care for an immediate family or household member who is sick, injured, or facing an emergency. This leave is typically paid for full-time and part-time employees, while casual employees are entitled to unpaid leave. Employers may require supporting evidence, such as a medical certificate, to approve the leave and ensure it’s used appropriately. The process generally involves notifying the employer as soon as possible and providing the required documentation if requested.

An online medical certificate is a document that certifies a patient is unfit to attend work or other duties due to a medical condition. This document is issued based on online telehealth communication with certified healthcare practitioners. Medical certificates obtained online hold the same validity as those obtained via in-person appointment. On Doctor Help we provide certificates that are scanned to check their authenticity. So online medical certificates are valid in Australia. 

To learn more about the employment and labour laws in Australia, visit www.fairwork.gov.au. 

Yes, you can obtain sick leave through an online medical certificate in Australia from doctors certified by AHPRA. Ensure that the certificate is authentic, as it has legal validity.

There are different reasons and types of medical certificates which can  be obtained online, including:

• Sick leave from work, school/ university
• Carer’s leave to take care of someone
• Stress leave in the form of personal leave
• Multiday leave for medical concerns via telehealth consultation

The most common reason to request a sick or doctor’s certificate online is taking an absence due to illness. Apart from that, a carer’s certificate is also a common ground on which absence is granted after providing the approved medical certificate. Some common conditions that require rest for a day include fatigue, period pain, gastroenteritis, cold, back pain, sore throat, and minor injuries.

Multiday sick leaves are granted to cover consecutive days rather than single-day absences. This means that the certificate is valid for several days. So the purpose of multiday sick leave is to cover the time of recovery, if it requires leave from work or university for a specific duration. To attain a multiday medical certificate, you must book a telehealth doctor appointment and discuss the condition via video call.

There is no need for a medicare card to get the medical certificate online or a telehealth consultation.

The process is identical to that of obtaining a medical certificate. Following the form submission, there is a telehealth call with the online doctor. Upon communication with the online GP, individuals are required to tell the reason and the health of dependents. After the online assessment, the doctor decides to provide a carer’s certificate. Subsequent to approval from the healthcare practitioner, a certificate will be issued within 12 hours.

Online medical certificates are legal documents, and they can be verified easily. These are legitimate certificates issued by healthcare practitioners. These medical certificates are widely accepted all across Australia. It’s recommended that you ensure this from your concerned organization or institution regarding the guidelines for leave.

Usually, 1-7 days are covered by an online medical or carer’s certificate. It depends on the online assessment by the online doctor. For longer periods, further review or in-person consultation may be required

The employer’s policy on medical leave also influences the number of days covered by the online medical certificate.

There are different grounds on which an online medical certificate could be issued. If you talk about a doctor’s certificate then some of  the medical grounds are mentioned below:

• Illness or Injury: A certificate that Confirms that a patient is unwell or injured and requires time off work or school to get fit again.
• Chronic Conditions: Some chronic conditions require a long break from work, documenting those ongoing medical conditions
• Mental Health: Addressing mental health issues such as stress, anxiety, depression, or other psychological conditions.
• Post-surgery Recovery: Post-surgery rest which has been given by the doctor could be another ground for a medical certificate. 
• Medical Fitness: Certifying that a person is fit or unfit for certain jobs, activities, or travel.
• Pregnancy and Maternity leave: Providing documentation for pregnancy-related leave or accommodations. This could be done and issued after the proper diagnosis and the consultant’s approval
• Contagious Diseases: One of the most significant medical ground Confirming that a person has a contagious disease and should avoid contact with others.

Yes, it is legal and a medical practitioner can issue a medical certificate even after a patient has taken leave due to medical reasons, providing the certificate states:

• Date of the issuance of a certificate
• Time or duration period which practitioner has recommended for recovery to being fit for work.

Source: Medical certificates: what you should know

There are certain guidelines published by The Medical Council of NSW which they expect practitioners to adhere to while issuing the medical certificates in Australia. 

The Code of Conduct by the Medical Board of Australia also provides important guidance about the confidentiality of the patient, doctor-patient relationship, and other matters:

A health practitioner may refuse to issue the certificate. This can occur if they don’t consider the absence from work necessary for the given nature of the illness. As well as if the certificate request is done retrospectively and the practitioner is not able to get affirmation about the facts of the matter. 

Source: Medical certificates: what you should know

The number of days that can be taken off with an online medical certificate can vary depending on:

• The doctor’s assessment of the illness or injury.
• Employer policies regarding sick leave.
• Local labour laws and regulations.
• Typically, a short-term online medical certificate might cover a few days to a week. For longer periods, further review or in-person consultation may be required.

Yes, if any individual gets sick or suffers injury during annual leave, they are usually required to show a medical certificate to their employer to convert the annual leave days. The reason is that annual leave days might be ending and hence the medical certificate will be shown to validate the period of illness and justify the use of sick leave instead of annual leave. This also allows the employee to preserve their annual leave days for future use.

Most of the time providing a medical certificate is sufficient for taking sick leave. This certificate is issued by medical health providers registered with AHPRA, hence the value of the certificate is significant. Usually, there are no details about the illness but the status of the employee whether they are fit or unfit for the work is mentioned. Employers are usually not entitled to detailed medical information, respecting the employee’s privacy. However, there may be exceptions based on the following factors:

• Specific job requirements or safety concerns.
• Company policies that might require more detailed information for certain conditions.
• Legal requirements in certain jurisdictions.
• It is advisable to review your organization’s sick leave policy and discuss any concerns with your HR department to understand the requirements and ensure compliance.

To get an online prescription from AHPRA-registered online GPs via Doctor Help, all you need to do is fill out the form and book an online telehealth consultation with the next available GP. Based on that consultation you will get your prescription via sms or email.

You’ll receive the e-script within a few minutes to an hour after your consultation. In most cases, the prescription is sent to you almost immediately via email or SMS, allowing you to quickly fill it at a pharmacy.

A new prescription is an initial document for the medication provided by the online doctor. It’s given to a patient who is either receiving medication for the first time or has had a major alteration in their treatment plan. A new prescription specifies the dosage, frequency, and duration of the medication. Whereas, a repeat prescription is a subsequent supply of a previously prescribed medication. This prescription allows patients with either chronic or ongoing conditions to continue their medication, ensuring consistent management of their medical condition.

Many chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma, COPD, and arthritis, can be managed through online prescription services.

Electronic prescriptions or online scripts are valid and accepted by pharmacies all across the country.

Yes, an online consultation is required for an online prescription. It is a significant step in attaining your virtual prescription. After the consultation prescriptions are given as per the online doctor’s recommendation.

Contact us at contact@doctorhelp.com.au

After the doctor consultation, and the patient’s condition, the maximum number of repeats (how many times you can get the medicine on the same prescription before needing to see your prescriber again) is recommended.

Online prescriptions also known as eRx are shared via SMS or email. Traditional paper prescriptions are given by hand via a piece of paper.

An Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI) is a unique 16-digit number that identifies individuals receiving healthcare in Australia. While it’s not required for accessing healthcare, an IHI is essential for using eScripts, allowing prescriptions to be sent directly to your phone or email. This number ensures that your correct information is available to healthcare providers at the right time. The IHI is also used to access and manage an individual’s My Health Record, which is an electronic summary of their key health information.

There are some limitations because not all medicines are prescribed online. Specially S8-classified medicines, may not be issued. Online doctors are unable to provide E-script for schedule 4d and S8 medicines.
This type of medication requires in-person appointments.

The online referral document must include the patient’s medical history, both current and past, as well as details of medications currently in use. It should also list any allergies or adverse reactions the patient has experienced and provide information on any diagnostic tests or investigations conducted.

Available online referrals include, Specialist referrals involve directing patients to a medical specialist based on their specific condition, ensuring they receive expert care for their particular needs. Pathology referrals include diagnostic screenings, such as X-rays, blood tests, and other laboratory investigations, to help diagnose or monitor various health conditions.

If the online doctor refers you to have screenings like X-rays, or blood tests, that’s an online pathology referral.

The term specialist referral means when an online doctor shares your medical history with a specialist, including, details regarding health issues, the date & reason for referral, and the healthcare practitioner’s name, signature & contact information. 

Specialist referral can be done as per the patient’s request or by online doctor’s recommendation as well

Submit the referral request

After the online consultation, your online doctor will recommend you to the specialist as per the patient’s medical condition.

Yes, online GP can refer you to a healthcare specialist for follow-up, they will recommend the referral via telehealth.

Specialist referrals by GP last for 12 months in Australia. 

Pathology referrals offer several benefits, including less time consumption and no waiting for appointments, streamlining the entire process. Screenings, such as those done for medical examinations and follow-up checkups, are conducted efficiently, ensuring prompt diagnosis and monitoring of health conditions.