“Changes Made to AHPRA’s Telehealth Prescribing Statement”
09 Oct 2025
The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) has updated its website to clarify that good practice prescribing via telehealth can occur after a face-to-face, video, or telephone consultation with a patient. This follows earlier wording that suggested prescribing should only occur after an in-person consultation.
The previous statement, released less than 48 hours earlier, prompted questions about its impact on online prescribing services, which have become more common in recent years. NewsGP asked AHPRA how the update compared with the Medical Board of Australia’s (MBA) guidelines, which have been in place since September 2023. The MBA advises that prescribing without a real-time consultation—whether in person, via video, or by phone—is not considered good practice.
An AHPRA spokesperson told newsGP that while face-to-face consultations remain best practice, practitioners can use their professional judgement to determine when video or phone consultations are appropriate and safe. The guidance also emphasises that telehealth consultations should occur in real time, not through text, email, or questionnaires.
By Thursday, AHPRA had updated its media release to clarify that examples of good practice could include video or telephone consultations, and that in-person visits may still be necessary in some cases. The regulator confirmed there is no change to MBA guidelines.
The RACGP supports telehealth services that provide continuity of care between patients and their usual GP or general practice team, noting that telehealth should complement, rather than replace, face-to-face care.
AHPRA has recently taken steps to reduce inappropriate prescribing in some clinics, particularly relating to medicinal cannabis. Established in 2010, the regulator oversees national registration and accreditation for health practitioners. Its current CEO, Justin Untersteiner, has prioritised a major review and transformation of the notification system to ensure it is timely, transparent, and fair.
Source: newsGP
