AHPRA Warns Healthcare Professionals to Put Patient Care Before Business Interests 

AHPRA Warns Healthcare Professionals to Put Patient Care Before Business Interests 

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) has issued new guidance reminding healthcare professionals that business interests must not interfere with their clinical judgement or the care they provide to patients. The interim guidance comes as changing healthcare business models, including some telehealth and integrated services, raise questions about whether financial interests can influence treatment decisions. 

AHPRA and the National Boards say healthcare professionals may face a conflict when they, their employer or another connected party could financially benefit from a treatment, referral, assessment, product or health service they recommend. Such conflicts may be actual, potential or simply perceived by patients. 

The guidance highlights concerns about healthcare businesses that combine several parts of the patient journey under one organisation. This can include clinics that prescribe and supply a particular medicine, businesses that sell health products or devices they recommend, and arrangements where practitioners receive financial incentives linked to specific services or treatments. Subscription-based models can also create concerns if they encourage services to continue when they may no longer be clinically necessary. 

For healthcare professionals, the message is that professional responsibilities do not change because of where or how they work. Practitioners are expected to assess patients properly, use appropriate clinical evidence and make independent decisions based on the individual patient’s needs. They should also discuss relevant treatment choices, including suitable options that are not provided or sold by their own organisation. 

AHPRA also places importance on transparency. If a practitioner or their employer has a financial or commercial interest that could affect patient care, this should be explained to the patient as part of the informed-consent process. Simply mentioning the interest on a website, advertisement or social media account is not considered sufficient disclosure. 

The guidance also sends a message to healthcare employers. Organisations should not create targets, incentives or performance measures that pressure registered professionals to put business revenue ahead of patient health and wellbeing. A financial benefit does not necessarily mean a direct payment; AHPRA notes that benefits such as free education, training or travel can also create a potential conflict. 

AHPRA’s case studies provide practical examples involving weight-loss treatment, referrals, pharmacy ownership and performance targets. One example describes a practitioner receiving commission from medicines prescribed through a business while patients are given limited treatment choices. AHPRA says arrangements of this kind can compromise, or appear to compromise, independent clinical judgement. 

There can also be serious consequences for employers that cross the line. Under section 136 of the National Law, directing or encouraging a registered healthcare professional to engage in conduct amounting to unprofessional conduct or professional misconduct can be a criminal offence. AHPRA states maximum penalties of $60,000 for an individual and $120,000 for a body corporate. 

For healthcare professionals, including nurses and other registered practitioners, the message is clear. Working in a commercial healthcare setting does not change their professional responsibilities. Patient wellbeing, independent clinical judgement, proper assessment and informed choice must remain at the centre of every clinical decision. 

 
Sources 
https://www.ahpra.gov.au/News/2026-09-24-Conflicts-of-interest 
https://www.medicalrepublic.com.au/ahpras-word-of-warning-over-commercial-conflicts/129373