A CAPALABA pharmacy is under investigation after sensitive patient information was found scattered behind its premises – with the pharmacist blaming staff error and ongoing vandalism for the serious privacy breach.
Discarded prescriptions containing personal medical details were discovered blowing around behind the Capalaba Day & Night Chemist on Old Cleveland Rd, prompting concerns from locals, and official referrals to multiple oversight bodies.
Photos taken in November 2022 and again last week show the area littered with patient scripts – many revealing names, addresses, and prescribed medications.
Under Australian privacy law, pharmacies are required to store and dispose of personal health information securely.
“This is a serious breach of confidentiality and a potential violation of state and federal privacy laws,” said one neighbouring business owner.
“These are people’s most personal details – their health, their identities – just lying in the dirt.”
One affected patient, Ron Gordon, said he was appalled to learn his personal information had been left exposed.
“It’s disgusting. Very irresponsible. Anyone could have picked that up and had all my personal details,” he said.
“I’ll be heading down there to talk to the pharmacy owner. We trust our chemists with sensitive information.”
Mr Gordon said the incident had made him reconsider where he fills his scripts.
“It’s hard – we go there because it’s quick, but now we’ll have to weigh that up with how seriously they take our privacy,” he said.
Pharmacist Satnam Singh said the breach was the result of a staff member failing to follow correct disposal procedures.
“The initial problem came from somebody who just did not follow the procedures – just being careless,” Mr Singh said.
“They’ve been spoken to, educated, reminded of the procedure, and asked to personally purchase a shredder to ensure all privacy-related material is destroyed in future – that’s part of the punishment.”
He said he had contacted health and council officials and explained it was an isolated incident.
Mr Singh said he would personally call affected customers this weekend to apologise.
He also claimed the business had been plagued by persistent bin tampering.
“Every time we put the bins out, they’re tipped over,” he said.
“We’ve tried everything – locking bins, sealed bags, reporting it to Council and police – but nothing’s worked.
“The health authorities have inspected and are conducting their own investigations, but so far there’s been no fine or official action.”
Mr Singh, who has since cleaned up the area behind his pharmacy, said the discarded prescriptions did not pose a risk of being reused to obtain medication.
“Once a script has been dispensed, it can’t just be used again – you’d need both the original and its duplicate to process it a second time,” he said.
He said he was unaware of any breaches dating back to 2022 and called for more support and clearer guidelines for pharmacies managing waste in public, high-traffic areas.
“We do everything we can – but it’s an ongoing challenge when bins are constantly being interfered with,” he said.
State Member for Capalaba Russell Field has referred the pharmacy privacy breach to the Metro South Public Health Unit to investigate potential breaches under the Medicines and Poisons Act 2019.
The matter has also been referred to the Office of the Health Ombudsman (OHO) for review of any alleged privacy violations.
A spokesperson for the OHO said that while the office could not comment on specific cases, all complaints were reviewed.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) said the OAIC “typically conducts regulatory action directly with the respondent organisation or agency”.
