Health watchdog must put patient welfare first and foremost

September 6, 2026 — 10:00am

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Australian consumers rely heavily on effective regulators across many industry sectors.

This is especially important in healthcare where negligence or incompetence can result in disfigurement, long-term pain and even death; proactive and effective watchdogs are vital to safeguarding patients’ interests.

It is disappointing then that one of the nation’s most important supervisory bodies, the Australian Healthcare Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), is once more in the spotlight.

As health editor, Kate Aubusson, reports in today’s Sun-Herald many injured, chronically ill and traumatised patients have accused AHPRA of failing to adequately investigate allegations of gross negligence and misconduct by doctors, nurses and allied healthcare professionals.

They report a worrying lack of transparency in the agency’s complaints handling; cases are sometimes........

© Brisbane Times