Online Doctor SA is the largest telemedicine platform in South Africa, with HPCSA registered doctors reviewing consultations across a wide range of conditions including tirzepatide (Mounjaro) for type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management.
Here is how it works for Mounjaro specifically.
Before You Start
Confirm that your preferred pharmacy currently stocks Mounjaro at the starting dose (2.5 mg). Availability is generally good across SA since the December 2024 launch but worth confirming before paying for the consultation.
Pharmacies to ask:
- Major retail: Clicks, Dis-Chem, Alpha Pharm
- Independent local pharmacies
- Online dispensing pharmacies that deliver
If your local pharmacy does not have it, ask if they can order it in. Most can.
The Clinical Form
The form is a structured set of medical questions covering:
- Height, weight, and calculated BMI
- What you are seeking treatment for (type 2 diabetes, weight management, both)
- Medical history, particularly thyroid, pancreas, gallbladder, kidney, gut, eye conditions
- Mental health history
- Current medications
- Allergies
- Pregnancy status or plans
- Eating disorder history
- Previous weight management efforts
- For women: current contraception method
- Other major medical conditions
Takes about ten minutes. Answer honestly. The doctor cannot make a safe decision without accurate information.
Payment
The consultation fee with Online Doctor SA is R250. Payment is through standard online options. This is for the consultation only. The medication is purchased separately at your pharmacy.
Doctor Review
A registered SA doctor, HPCSA registered, reviews your answers. They decide:
- Whether Mounjaro is appropriate for you
- Whether eligibility criteria are met
- Whether there are contraindications
- What starting dose to prescribe (almost always 2.5 mg for the first month)
- What follow up timing makes sense
- Whether other diabetes or cardiovascular medications need adjustment
In some cases, the doctor may ask follow up questions before issuing the prescription. In a minority of cases, they may decline and recommend an in person assessment or suggest alternatives.
Prescription By Email
If approved, the prescription is emailed to you. You can print it or show it from your phone at the pharmacy.
Pharmacy Collection
Take the prescription to the pharmacy you have already confirmed has stock. The KwikPen will be supplied refrigerated. Most pharmacies provide a small cooler bag for transport home.
The pharmacist will usually demonstrate the injection technique if you ask. The KwikPen is designed for home self-injection.
Ready To Start
The clinical form takes about ten minutes. If approved, your prescription is usually with you the same day during business hours.
Start ConsultationWhat To Have Ready
- Current height and weight (or BMI)
- List of current medications, including over the counter and supplements
- Brief notes on any major medical conditions
- Brief notes on mental health history relevant to body image and eating
- Medical aid details (optional, only needed if claiming)
- About ten quiet minutes
Follow Up Consultations
Follow up consultations are needed for dose increases and for repeat prescriptions. The structure is similar to the initial consultation: a shorter form to update progress, side effects, and response. The treating doctor decides whether to step up the dose, hold at the current dose, or in some cases reduce or stop.
What Happens If The Doctor Declines
If something in your history makes Mounjaro unsuitable, the doctor will explain why. Common reasons for decline:
- BMI below the eligibility threshold without comorbidities
- Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN2
- History of pancreatitis
- Active gallbladder disease
- Active eating disorder or recent significant eating disorder history
- Significant unstable mental health concerns
- Pregnancy
- Type 1 diabetes
- Other safety concerns that need in person assessment
If declined, the consultation fee covers the doctor's time. They will usually suggest the appropriate next step.
Comparison To In Person Consultation
| Online Doctor SA | Specialist or GP in person | |
|---|---|---|
| Time from start to script | Same day usually | Days to weeks depending on availability |
| Cost of consultation | R250 | R600 to R2500 depending on specialist |
| Discretion | Fully online | Variable |
| Same medication options | Yes | Yes |
| Physical examination | No | Possible |
| Best for | Most people with straightforward eligibility | Complex cases or people who prefer face to face |
Most people do not need a physical examination to start Mounjaro safely. The history captures what matters most.
Frequently Asked
The clinical form takes about ten minutes. Doctor review typically happens within an hour during business hours. The prescription is emailed once approved.
No. The consultation is asynchronous. You complete a structured form, a doctor reviews your answers, and the prescription is issued.
It happens. If something in your history makes Mounjaro inappropriate, the doctor will explain why and may suggest alternatives or recommend an in person assessment.
R250 through Online Doctor SA. This covers the doctor review and prescription. The medication is purchased separately at your pharmacy.