Scripts, sick notes and referrals from a video consult

Scripts, sick notes and referrals from a video consult

• Health Near Me
• 5 Aug 2026

The most common question we hear: "can an online doctor actually give me a script?" In South Africa, yes — with some sensible limits. Here is how it works.

Prescriptions

A doctor consulting you over video may prescribe medication where it is clinically appropriate, the same as in their rooms. After your consult, the script is emailed to you as a signed document. Most pharmacies accept emailed scripts — you can also forward it to your pharmacy's dispensary address and collect, or use a delivery pharmacy.

The limits: certain scheduled medicines legally require a physical examination, and no responsible doctor will prescribe them over video on a first consult. If that applies to you, the doctor will say so and refer you appropriately.

Sick notes

A doctor who has consulted you — including over video — may issue a certificate of illness. It arrives by email as a signed document your employer can verify. What a doctor cannot do is backdate a note for days they did not assess you, online or off.

Referral letters

If you need a specialist, the doctor writes a referral letter setting out your history and the reason for referral. Some medical aid plans require a GP referral before they will pay specialist rates — a video consult is a quick, legitimate way to get one.

The invoice

Every consult ends with a detailed invoice carrying the doctor's practice details and codes, emailed automatically. Submit it to your medical aid for reimbursement — whether they pay depends on your plan, so check with your scheme.