MedsCheck: a free medication review with your pharmacist

What a MedsCheck covers

A MedsCheck is a structured consultation between you and a pharmacist, conducted in a private area of the pharmacy. The pharmacist reviews the medicines you are currently taking (both prescription and over-the-counter), checks how and when you take them, flags potential interactions or gaps, and gives you a written summary to share with your GP.

The consultation typically runs 15 to 20 minutes. It is not a clinical exam, and it does not replace seeing your GP. Think of it as a structured check-in on whether your medications are doing what they are supposed to do, safely.

Who is eligible

MedsCheck is federally funded under the Community Pharmacy Agreement for patients who meet specific criteria. As at April 2026, eligibility generally includes people taking five or more regular prescription medicines, people with recent changes to their medication regimen, people living with diabetes (Diabetes MedsCheck), and people who have been recently discharged from hospital.

Eligibility is checked by the pharmacy against the current Programme Specific Guidelines. If you do not qualify for the funded service, a pharmacist can still run a private medication review for a fee. Confirm with the pharmacy.

How it differs from a Home Medicines Review

Both are medication reviews, but they differ in setting, depth, and who runs them. A MedsCheck happens in the pharmacy and takes 15 to 20 minutes with the community pharmacist; you ask for it directly. A Home Medicines Review (HMR) happens in your home, covers your full medication regimen and how it fits your home setup, is run by an accredited pharmacist, and needs a GP referral. Both are free for eligible patients.

A Home Medicines Review is appropriate for people with complex medication regimens or home circumstances that affect how medicines are managed. Ask your GP if you think an HMR would help.

How to book one

Find a pharmacy that offers MedsCheck in the directory, filter by state or city, and phone the pharmacy to confirm availability. Most will book an appointment within a few days; some run same-day slots for urgent needs.

What to bring

To get the most out of a MedsCheck, bring every medicine you are currently taking, including over-the-counter and complementary medicines in their original packaging where possible, any medicines you have stopped in the last few months and the reason, a list of allergies, your Medicare card, and contact details for your regular GP (the pharmacist will send a summary of the consultation to your GP with your consent).

If you have recent pathology results or a GP summary letter, bring those too. They are not required but they help.

Diabetes MedsCheck

Diabetes MedsCheck is a variant specifically for people managing type 2 diabetes. It covers everything a standard MedsCheck covers, plus a more detailed review of diabetes-specific medicines, blood glucose monitoring habits, and lifestyle factors. Eligibility criteria and frequency are set under the same Community Pharmacy Agreement.

For diabetes self-management support more broadly, see the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS).