An order for a medication, therapy or therapeutic device given by a properly authorised person, which ultimately goes to a person properly authorised to dispense, supply or perform the order (in most situations, a pharmacist).

The prescribed medication, therapy or therapeutic device must be listed in the Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits.

Drugs and medicinal or therapeutic products can be classified in a number of ways, e.g. their intended clinical effect, the body system they are intended to influence, or the level of government subsidy they attract due to their inclusion (or otherwise) in the Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits as part of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).