QUEENSLAND’S pharmacy watchdog has rejected a referral to investigate a Capalaba privacy breach, citing delays in its powers coming into effect – leaving one oversight body to close its file while another continues the probe.
The Office of the Health Ombudsman (OHO) confirmed it had referred a complaint about Capalaba Day & Night Chemist to the Queensland Pharmacy Business Ownership Council (QPBOC), but the referral was rejected because the council’s regulatory functions are not due to start until November 2025.
In a written update, the OHO advised that the QPBOC had declined to consider the matter on the basis that “their powers are not currently in full operation”.
“As such, they are unable to assist in this matter. We have therefore closed this referral,” wrote Claire, Acting Principal Complaints and Resolution Officer with the OHO’s Complaints Intake and Triage Team.
However, the OHO confirmed that another entity had accepted the matter for investigation, although did not specify which.
The rejection comes after a series of concerning incidents at the Capalaba pharmacy, where personal prescriptions and sensitive patient data were found scattered behind the business’s Old Cleveland Rd premises – including names, addresses and prescribed medications.
The privacy breach prompted outrage from community members and scrutiny from multiple oversight agencies, including the Metro South Public Health Unit and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).
