Pharmacies in Australia: Buying Medicines and What Newcomers Should Know

Pharmacies in Australia (also called a chemist) work differently from many other countries in one important way: the line between freely available medicines and those that need a doctor’s prescription is regulated more strictly, and pharmacists play a genuine advisory role — they are not just sitting at the cash register.

Two main types of medicine

Over-the-counter medicines (OTC)

These are medicines you can buy without a doctor’s prescription. Examples: paracetamol (for pain and fever), ibuprofen (anti-inflammatory and pain relief), common allergy medicines, mild cough and cold medicines, topical creams, and vitamins and minerals.

However, many OTC medicines in Australia still have limits on how much you can buy at once, and a pharmacist may ask about your reason for use before selling — this is a rule to protect users, not a sign of suspicion.

Some medicines that are OTC in other countries are prescription-only in Australia — for example, many antibiotics. Don’t assume a medicine you are used to buying freely at home can be bought freely here.

Prescription medicines

Prescription medicines can only be sold with a valid prescription from a doctor registered to practise in Australia. You cannot buy prescription medicines in Australia using only a prescription from overseas.

Antibiotics, blood pressure medicines, diabetes medicines, mental health medicines, and most medicines that treat chronic conditions fall into this group.

If you are taking a prescription medicine from overseas and need to continue treatment, see a GP in Australia — they can assess you and prescribe an equivalent medicine here. Do not try to bring prescription medicines into Australia without declaring them; some medicines are tightly controlled at the border.

How to buy prescription medicines at a pharmacy

Take the prescription from your doctor to any pharmacy
Show your Medicare card (if you have one) — prescription medicines are subsidised through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) when you are eligible
The pharmacist prepares the medicine and explains how to use it
Pay the portion you are charged (if the medicine is on the PBS, this is considerably lower than the full price)

You do not need to return to the clinic to buy medicine on a prescription — pharmacies and clinics are independent of each other in Australia.

The pharmacist’s role

Pharmacists in Australia are highly trained and can advise you on:

How to take a medicine at the right dose and the right time
Common side effects to watch for
Interactions between the medicines you are taking (important when you take several at once)
Which OTC medicine suits a mild symptom
When you should see a doctor rather than buy something yourself

Don’t hesitate to ask the pharmacist — this is part of their role and it is completely free. If your English is still developing, prepare the medicine names in English or bring the original packaging.

Questions worth asking when you collect medicine

When you collect medicine at a pharmacy, some useful questions are:

“How should I take this? With food or without?”
“What side effects should I watch out for?”
“Is it safe to take with [name of another medicine]?”
“Does this medicine make me drowsy?”

Bringing medicine into Australia from overseas

If you are taking medicine and preparing to come to Australia:

Check whether that medicine is restricted from being brought into Australia (see the Australian Border Force website at abf.gov.au)
Bring documentation from your doctor if the medicine is a prescription medicine
Declare everything fully at customs — including vitamins and supplements

Once you arrive in Australia, see a GP to continue your treatment properly within the local health system.