How an IHI can help you access eScripts and share your healthcare information

Pharmacist scanning eScript

There are situations where a doctor needs to verify your information, like when handing out prescriptions online (eScripts) or providing a record of your vaccination history. For these, you’ll need an IHI number.


What’s an IHI number?

An individual healthcare identifier, or IHI, is a unique 16-digit number used to identify a person getting healthcare. That could be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident, or a visitor to Australia. Anyone with a Medicare or Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) card automatically has an IHI.

IHIs hold all your contact information, including your first name, family name, date of birth, gender, Medicare and DVA card numbers, and address. They don’t hold medical information but do keep record of whoever accesses them.

Only you and authorised people like medical staff and healthcare providers can access an IHI, by using the Healthcare Identifiers (HI) Service.


Why do you need an IHI number?

IHIs are a convenient way to share your information with healthcare providers. They make sure your correct details are available to the right person at the right point of your care.

You do not need an IHI number to access the healthcare system, but you will need an IHI number in order to access eScripts (when prescriptions for medicines can be sent straight to your phone or email). If you do not have an IHI number, you can still get a script for the medicine that has been prescribed for you, but it will have to be a paper script that is mailed or personally handed to you.


How do you get an IHI number?

For anyone without a Medicare or DVA card, there are two ways to get an IHI.

Apply online

You can quickly and easily get an IHI through your account on the myGov government services portal. If you don’t have a MyGov account yet, it’s a good idea to create one. Once you’ve signed up, make sure you have the following documents handy to verify your identity.

  • Your passport, with a valid Australia visa, OR
  • Your Australian driver’s licence.
From here, it’s a simple four-step process.
  1. Sign in to myGov at my.gov.au
  2. Select services or link your first service.
  3. Select IHI service from the list.
  4. Follow the prompts.

Request a paper form

You can also use the Request an Individual Healthcare Identifier form (MS003) to apply for an IHI. Various translated versions are available if you’d prefer it in another language. You will need:

  • Your passport, with a valid Australia visa, OR
  • Your Australian driver’s licence, AND
  • An Australian address