To access proper care for his child, Dr. Ziad Basyouny recounts how he must travel outside his electorate of Watson. “There are no autistic support schools in the area,” he says.
The Independent candidate in the upcoming federal election, has experienced first hand the problem facing the broader population in his community in south-west Sydney. Dr Basyouny says these gaps in local healthcare services are also evident through his work with patients. “There is a lack of attention by the duopoly of the political system to the people of Watson,” he says. “The only solution is to seek representation to change how the area of Watson is viewed and treated.”
Cleanbill, an Australian organisation that promotes price transparency in healthcare, identifies in the Blue report that Watson experienced the largest out-of-pocket increase across Australia, with an average $11.98 increase in out-of-pocket costs for GP visits, a 48.82% increase since 2023. The increase suggests a rising demand for healthcare facilities provided in the Watson electorate.
Dr. Basyouny began his medical background in Cairo. With his qualifications, he began working in the health sector soon after migrating to Australia in 2004. Since then, he has been a proud general practitioner for his local area.
In the election, Dr Basyouny, will be up against established current member Tony Burke. The Labor representative’s office has drawn attention to the upgrades in health services across the electorate: the Bankstown Urgent Care Clinic, funded by the federal government; the Belmore Urgent Care Service opening; and Canterbury Hospital upgrades by the NSW state government.
According to Dr. Basyouny, patients with life-threatening conditions including cancer and those in need of dialysis, are still being missed by both hospitals within the Watson electorate, being sent 20–40 minutes away to receive care. “There is no medicine I can give that will build an oncology ward in Bankstown or a cardiology unit in Canterbury Hospital,” he says.
Since 2022, Watson has secured over $30 million in government funding. However, part of Dr. Basyouny’s plan is to push for increased funding and resources — particularly for the district’s healthcare facilities. His campaign includes a goal to “increasing the availability of general practitioners, specialists, and other healthcare professionals in the community.”
Dr. Basyouny says he will also push for an expansion of mental health services, providing access to counselling and therapy without long delays. According to a 2025 report on youth seeking mental health by the University of New South Wales, the average wait time to see an in-person psychiatrist is 99.6 days for their first session. “Mental health services in Watson are underfunded, with only 60% of residents able to access the care they need,” states Dr Basyouny’s website.
With his vision for healthcare reform, commitment to finding solutions for the cost of living crisis and foreign policy issues, Dr. Basyouny has also garnered support from local community leaders and grassroots organizations, such as Muslim Votes Matter (MVM), who aim to encourage young voters to educate themselves on and engage with politics. In a recent Facebook post, MVM endorsed Dr. Basyouny based on his background in serving his community as a practitioner and his stance against social injustices around the world.
Dr. Basyouny wants to remind voters that healthcare pressures could be alleviated with a “sensible government” and that he will continue to roll out policies aligned with healthcare reform and community advocacy as May 3rd approaches.
