Leaf Doctors and Alternaleaf are two of Australia’s largest telehealth clinics in the alternative healthcare space. Both offer online telehealth consultations to determine whether patients are eligible for alternative medicine, both offer clinical care from Australian doctors, and both clinics are suited to new and existing patients with chronic health or other health conditions who are looking to get natural medicine.
If you’re in the market, it’s only fair that you look at these two clinics to determine who to work with and what the main differences are between Leaf Doctors and Alternaleaf.
An Overview on Alternaleaf
Alternaleaf is part of the Montu group, a large player in the alternative healthcare landscape. Alternaleaf has been around since 2020, and is a large national provider with significant infrastructure. Alternaleaf is a recognised brand with an established presence, with 100% online services, and no physical presence. It does mean that there’s a bit more of a complex healthcare ecosystem, and the brand is expanding into other regions, including the UK.
An Overview of Leaf Doctors
Leaf Doctors was founded in 2023 (The Leaf Doctors Clinic Pty Ltd) and is headquartered in Sydney. The clinic provides TeleHealth consults for all Australians, and online delivery on all products. Leaf Doctors partners with True Green Health pharmacy for in-person dispensing in Newtown, Sydney’s Inner West, and Strathpine, in Queensland’s Moreton Bay.
What are the main differences between Alternaleaf vs Leaf Doctors?
The biggest difference between these two, particularly for new patients, is that Leaf Doctors provides free initial consultations and free follow-up consultations, whereas Alternaleaf provides a free nurse assessment, and then a doctor’s consultation is $29.
Alternaleaf is then somewhat vague about follow-up costs: fees apply and will be confirmed with your doctor.
But there are other differences in level of service and what each clinic provides, particularly when it comes to how appointments are delivered, availability, delivery of product or product choice, follow-up care, and structure for new patients.
So if you’re a patient looking to compare these two providers, let’s provide a detailed breakdown.
| Factor | Leaf Doctors | Alternaleaf |
|---|---|---|
| Structure for new patients | Online eligibility quiz, then straight to a doctor | Nurse-first pathway, then progress to a doctor |
| Initial consultation | Free | Free nurse assessment, then $29 doctor consultation |
| Follow-up consultations | Free (100%) | Fees apply, confirmed with your doctor (no clear pricing) |
| Concession discount | Available for concession card holders | 15% off for concession card holders |
| How appointments are delivered | Online telehealth, directly with a doctor | Online telehealth, nurse first then doctor |
| Appointment availability | Seven-day availability; doctors available 7am to Midnight | Monday to Friday 7am to 9pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm AEST; lead times vary by doctor and nurse availability |
| Product choice / delivery | Range of product formats. Express delivery Australia-wide, same-day in eligible Sydney and Brisbane postcodes. Physical dispensaries in Newtown and Strathpine. Order via patient portal | Product range dispensed through UMeds; prices not published. Standard delivery 1 to 5 business days, standard shipping $15, same-day $20; no physical dispensary. Order via patient portal |
| Follow-up care | Free follow-up consultations; manage prescriptions and orders via patient portal | Follow-ups every 6 to 8 weeks, more often if the doctor advises. Prescription valid 6 months, then reviewed. Manage via repeats tab in patient portal |
| Doctors | AHPRA registered (30+ Australian doctors) | 150+ Australian doctors |
Alternaleaf vs Leaf Doctors for new patients
As a new patient, there are some key differences between Alternaleaf and Leaf Doctors, particularly if you’re new to the alternative healthcare space.
- Leaf Doctors: Free consults with AHPRA-registered doctors
- Alternaleaf: Free consult with nurse, then $29 consult with doctor
Leaf Doctors provides free initial consultations and free follow-up consultations. They also have an online eligibility quiz so that you can start your journey and get a rough pre-screen or sense-check whether you’re going to be a good fit for Leaf Doctors.
Alternaleaf, on the other hand, uses a nurse-first pathway before progressing to a doctor, which means that you need to have an initial consultation before you’ll speak to the person who will potentially determine your eligibility for treatment.
Some patients may like having an initial nurse assessment before their doctor’s appointment, whereas it may be more straightforward to work directly with Leaf Doctors, who have AHPRA registered doctors available 24/7 for appointments.
Considering the industry, the main benefit of working with a telehealth clinic is that you’re able to access simplified healthcare without waiting a significant period of time in a waiting room or to see a doctor. In the alternative healthcare space, many who are new to this are generally looking for affordable, simplified access to ongoing consultations without having to wait or experience multiple appointments before speaking to a doctor.
How much are follow up consultations?
- Leaf Doctors: Free
- Alternaleaf: $29 initial consult, no clear pricing around follow-ups
Both Leaf Doctors and Alternaleaf provide follow-up consultations and the infrastructure needed for clients to be able to manage their healthcare on an ongoing basis.
Alternaleaf advertises a $29 initial consult, but there’s no clear pricing around follow-up consultations. Alternaleaf also provides 15% off for concession card holders.
Leaf Doctors provides 100% free follow-up consultations, which is a significant benefit for ongoing clients, which shows it’s not just an effort to get new clients on board. Particularly for patients who expect to need ongoing reviews as they start treatment, Leaf Doctors provides a strong pricing proposition for follow-up appointments with your doctor.
Appointment availability
- Leaf Doctors: Appointments available between 7am-12am, 365 days a year
- Alternaleaf: Monday to Friday 7am-9pm, Saturday 9am-5pm AEST
In terms of appointment availability, Leaf Doctors have a team working 24/7 to be able to provide consults and follow-up appointments for patients, with doctors available seven days a week, including in evenings. Leaf Doctors consults and appointments are conducted over the phone. They also have a 24/7 patient care team that is available by live chat to be able to support existing and new patients and any questions they might have.
Alternaleaf telehealth consultations are available Monday to Friday from 7am to 9pm, and Saturday from 9am to 5pm AEST. For nurse consultations, if there are no nurses online, then the on-demand feature is hidden on the website. For general telehealth clinic appointments, lead times can vary depending on live doctor and nurse availability. They do have a large team of more than 150 doctors, so it just depends on whether and when these doctors are available for an appointment.
Switching providers to Leaf Doctors vs Alternaleaf
- Leaf Doctors: Patient needs a discharge letter or evidence the previous prescribing relationship has finished; Leaf Doctors can reach out to the previous prescriber if required
- Alternaleaf: Required to provide a discharge letter if switching from another clinic
In order to switch healthcare providers, patients need to get a valid discharge letter from their current provider. The process for Leaf Doctors is as follows:
- Patient books a free consult with Leaf Doctors
- During appointment, the patient needs to let doctor know that they are with another clinic
- Patient needs to get a discharge letter or evidence that their previous prescribing relationship with previous clinic has finished
- This is then sent to Leaf Doctors to review – Leaf Doctors does not charge for switching providers
- If required, Leaf Doctors can reach out to previous prescriber for discharge letter
- Existing prescriptions are not transferred – Leaf Doctors will get the history and then start fresh with a new prescription based on the consultation/treatments agreed on
- If you’ve already got your discharge letter, then within the same consulting week. Getting a discharge letter in advance of the appointment results in no additional delays.
You can only be prescribed by one doctor at a time, so there are strict protocols from the TGA in order to be approved for alternative healthcare and to switch to a new clinic.
How often are follow ups required?
- Leaf Doctors: Initial follow up at 30 days, another at 90 days following your first consult
- Alternaleaf: Follow ups every 6-8 weeks depending on doctor guidance
Leaf Doctors aim to provide an initial follow up ~30 days followed by another follow up at ~90 days following your first consult. The 30 day check-in provides a great opportunity for your doctor to see how you’re responding to the treatment, discuss any side effects, and ensure that your care plan continues to suit your situation.
Three months gives you a chance to get a better idea of symptoms, the treatment itself, and how you’re adapting. At Leaf Doctors, ongoing follow up reviews are a big consideration – the doctors like to tailor and personalise the treatment plans based on how each patient is responding. The doctor availability window is open well in advance, which means you can book all of your follow ups with the same doctor to maintain continuity of care.
According to the website, customer reviews and forums, Alternaleaf recommends follow-ups every 6-8 weeks, more often if the doctor advises it is necessary. The prescription is valid for 6 months, where it will need to be reviewed to be renewed.
Pricing and product range
| Type | Leaf Doctors | Alternaleaf |
|---|---|---|
| Consult costs | All consults and follow-ups, including prescription renewals, are free. No compulsory consultation subscriptions | Free with a nurse, then a $29 fee for the doctor consult |
| Product pricing | Transparent pricing provided once a consult has been completed. Products generally range from $90-$150. | No product prices published online; prices vary per item and are not publicly available |
| Products | Variety of alternative medicine options and formats; doctor provides guidance on which formats are most suitable | Product range dispensed through Montu’s partner pharmacy, UMeds |
| Concessions | Discounts for concession card holders | Discounts for concession card holders |
Due to TGA advertising laws, clinics are not at liberty to discuss products, product pricing, and formats available until it is deemed that a patient is an eligible candidate and a good fit for treatment.
Prescription repeats
| Factor | Leaf Doctors | Alternaleaf |
|---|---|---|
| Where to manage | Prescription appears in your patient portal, accessible any time | Request repeats via the repeats tab in the patient portal |
| Repeats | One script valid for 6 months with repeats attached, listed with your interval time period | Script includes a set number of repeats. Once repeats run out or the 6 month script expires, a follow-up consultation is needed; a new script may need SAS/TGA approval before the first order |
| Refills | Automatic refill options, so the system reorders for you when your interval is up | Patient requests repeats manually |
One of the things that sets Leaf Doctors apart is that they have automatic refill options, which means that instead of having to go online and reorder when your interval is up, the system will automatically do this for you.
Delivery & ongoing prescription management
If eligible for treatment, then both clinics provide delivery for the product to be dispensed and delivered to patients’ homes.
| Factor | Leaf Doctors | Alternaleaf |
|---|---|---|
| Dispensing | Physical dispensaries in both Sydney and Brisbane; aims to dispatch same business day when orders are received before 3pm | Uses UMeds as primary dispensary partner; UMeds aims to dispense within one business day |
| Delivery time | Within 1 to 3 business days after dispatch via StarTrack Premium | 1 to 5 business days, sometimes longer if waiting for TGA approval or stock |
| Same-day | Same-day delivery in eligible Sydney and Brisbane postcodes when ordered before 12pm | |
| Pickup | Pick up from the partner dispensaries in Newtown and Strathpine | Click and collect at participating pharmacies depending on location |
| Coverage | Australia-wide, including all regional locations | Varies depending on your location |
| Shipping cost | Free shipping on orders above $300 | Standard shipping $15, same-day shipping $20 |
| Privacy | Discreet, unmarked packaging; tracking details on all orders |
In conclusion:
Leaf Doctors and Alternaleaf are two of the largest clinics in Australia that offer alternative medicine consultations, and each have their own partner dispensary systems for clients. Who you choose to go with ultimately comes down to your goals, your budget, and who is the better fit for your requirements.
At Leaf Doctors, we aim to make this entire process more simplified than it has been, and to ensure that our patients have the education and accessibility to make decisions on their healthcare with confidence. We’ve now helped more than 100,000 patients across the country and have more than 30 AHPRA registered Australian doctors on board. One of our pride points is our centralised patient portal, where our clients can access all of their information in one spot.
Our doctors are available to speak to patients between the hours of 7am and midnight, 7 days a week, and we’re open every day of the year, including public holidays. Obviously, we’re somewhat biased. However, we believe that Leaf Doctors is the future of the alternative healthcare space, and we welcome anyone and everyone to get in touch to learn more. No obligations, and consults are always free.
