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Australian GPs report rising concern over medical misinformation
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) reports a significant increase in medical misinformation concerns among Australian general practitioners. According to the 2026 Health of the Nation report, 44 per cent of surveyed GPs identified misinformation as a professional challenge, an increase from 35 per cent the previous year.
The report, based on a nationwide survey of more than 2,700 GPs, highlights that patients are increasingly seeking health information from social media, online platforms, and AI-powered tools before consulting doctors. RACGP President Dr Michael Wright noted that the rapid growth of artificial intelligence is making health misinformation more widespread, personalized, and difficult to identify or counter.
Medical professionals warn that reliance on inaccurate online advice can delay diagnoses, discourage preventive healthcare, and undermine trust in evidence-based medicine. In response, the RACGP is calling on the Federal Government to strengthen Australia’s evidence base for primary care and establish a national general practice-based research network.
Entities
Australia · Michael Wright · Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] 44 per cent of surveyed Australian GPs identified medical misinformation as a challenge in their work. nctimes.com.au · www.netimes.com.au · disa.org
- [● 3 SOURCES] The RACGP survey included more than 2,700 general practitioners. nctimes.com.au · www.netimes.com.au · disa.org
- [● 2 SOURCES] The RACGP is calling for a national general practice-based research network. nctimes.com.au · www.netimes.com.au
- [● 3 SOURCES] Artificial intelligence is making health misinformation more widespread and harder to counter. nctimes.com.au · www.netimes.com.au · disa.org