Forgot your medicine on holiday? How to get it on the Gold Coast

Local guides ·Published 10 October 2026 ·Reviewed 10 October 2026

Written by the Priceline Pharmacy Pacific Fair team. Reviewed by Jason Markey, BPharmSci, MPharm, Owner and Pharmacist.

General health information from a registered pharmacist. It doesn’t replace advice from your own pharmacist or doctor.

If you forgot your medication on holiday and you’re now on the Gold Coast without it, the quickest first step is to walk into a pharmacy and talk to the pharmacist. Depending on your medicine and your situation, the answer might be an eScript from your usual doctor, a visit to a local GP, or in some cases a small supply to tide you over. Our prescription and dispensing service at Pacific Fair sorts this out for interstate and overseas visitors all year round, so you’re not the first, and you won’t be the last.

Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to work out which option fits you.

Step 1: Work out exactly what you’ve left behind

Before you do anything else, gather as much detail as you can. The more we know, the faster we can help.

• The name and strength of each medicine. A photo of the box or the pharmacy label on your phone is ideal.
• When you last took it and when your next dose is due.
• Who prescribed it and the name of your usual pharmacy, including their phone numbers.
• Any eScript tokens or repeats sitting in your text messages or email.

If you can’t remember the name, don’t guess. Someone at home may be able to photograph the packet, or your usual pharmacy may be able to confirm what you’ve been dispensed.

How urgent is it?

Missing a dose of some medicines is an inconvenience. Missing others, such as insulin, reliever puffers, seizure medicines or some heart medicines, can quickly become a health risk. If you’re not sure which group yours falls into, tell the pharmacist straight away and let them help you judge the urgency.

Step 2: Ask a pharmacist first

A pharmacist is usually the quickest person to see on holiday, with no appointment needed. We can check what you take, contact your regular pharmacy or doctor if needed, and talk you through the options below.

Can a pharmacist give me my medicine without a prescription?

Sometimes, but not always. In Queensland, a pharmacist may be able to supply a small quantity of some regular prescription medicines without a script, so your treatment isn’t interrupted until you can get a new prescription. The pharmacist has to be satisfied that it’s necessary and safe for you.

There’s also a national arrangement called PBS Continued Dispensing. Under it, an approved pharmacist can supply an eligible medicine without a prescription when there’s an immediate need and your usual prescriber can’t be contacted. According to the PBS, the pharmacist must confirm that:

• you’ve been supplied the medicine in the last three months and your condition is stable;
• your usual prescriber can’t be reached or can’t send an electronic or owing prescription;
• you haven’t had that medicine supplied this way in the past 12 months; and
• it’s safe and appropriate for you.

The eligible list is mainly medicines for long-term conditions, such as asthma and other lung conditions, diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease, plus oral contraceptives and some others. It doesn’t cover every medicine, so ask us whether it applies to yours. Ask us about any cost before we supply.

Step 3: Ask your home GP to send an eScript

If you’re visiting from interstate, this is often the simplest fix. Call your GP’s clinic, explain you’re away, and ask whether they can send you an electronic prescription. Many clinics can do this after a phone or video consultation.

• Your eScript arrives as a token, a link or QR code sent by SMS or email.
• You can show that token at any pharmacy you choose, including ours, or forward it to the pharmacy ahead of time so your medicine is ready to collect.
• If you already have an Active Script List, your doctor can send the script to your list, and you can give the pharmacy consent to access it.
• If you have eScript repeats on your phone, you can usually use them here too. Lost the message? For a repeat, contact the pharmacy that issued it and ask them to resend the token.

If you have a Medicare card, the PBS applies wherever you fill your script in Australia, so being on holiday in Queensland doesn’t change that.

Step 4: See a local GP

If your own doctor can’t help, or you need a new medicine reviewed or started, you’ll need to see a doctor here. Bring the packaging or a photo of the label, and any letters about your condition. If you’re staying nearby, there’s a GP clinic right inside our store (details at the end of this guide).

Step 5: Visiting from overseas? Know how Medicare and the PBS apply

Overseas visitors have a few extra things to think about.

Reciprocal Health Care Agreements

Australia has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements with 11 countries: Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom. If you’re visiting from one of these countries, Services Australia says you may be eligible for some medically necessary care under Medicare while you’re here. For some countries, such as the UK, this includes some PBS prescription medicines at the general rate. Rules differ between countries, and you usually need to enrol with Medicare using your passport, visa and proof that you live in that country.

If you’re not covered

If your country isn’t on that list, or you haven’t enrolled, you can still see a GP and have a prescription filled. You’ll generally pay the full private cost of the consultation and the medicine, so check your travel insurance and keep your receipts.

What overseas visitors should bring

• Your passport and visa details.
• The original packaging, or a clear photo, showing the medicine name and strength.
• A copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor, if you have one. A prescription written overseas generally can’t be filled here, so plan to see a local GP for a new one.
• Your travel insurance details.

Your medicine may have a different brand name in Australia, or may not be available in the same strength. Your pharmacist and GP can help match it.

Step 6: Find us, and plan better next time

Pacific Fair is a popular stop for Gold Coast holidaymakers, especially during the Queensland school holidays, and it’s easy to reach by car or public transport. You’ll find directions and parking tips on our Visit Us page.

For your next trip, a few small habits make forgetting much less stressful:

• Pack your medicines in your carry-on, not your checked luggage.
• Keep a current medicines list on your phone.
• Save photos of each pharmacy label.
• Ask your pharmacy about an Active Script List, so your eScripts aren’t tied to one phone message.

When to see a pharmacist or GP

Talk to a pharmacist or GP the same day if you’ve missed doses of a medicine for diabetes, epilepsy, a heart condition, asthma, mental health or blood clotting, or if you’re feeling unwell after missing a dose.

Call 000 in an emergency, for example if you or someone with you has:

• chest pain or trouble breathing;
• an asthma attack that isn’t settling with their reliever;
• a seizure;
• sudden confusion, drowsiness or collapse, including signs of very high or very low blood sugar.

Need to see a doctor while you’re here? See a GP at Help Medical, located inside our store. Ask Help Medical about fees when you book.

This article is general information only and isn’t a substitute for personal advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always read the label and follow the directions for use. If symptoms persist or you’re worried, talk to your pharmacist or GP. In an emergency, call 000.