Ala. Code § 27-21A-24
All applications, filings, and reports required under this chapter, except those which are trade secrets or privileged or confidential commercial or financial information, other than any annual financial statement that may be required under Section 27-21A-8, shall be treated as public documents. All testimony, documents, and other evidence required to be submitted to the commissioner or State Health Officer in connection with enforcement of this chapter shall be absolutely confidential and shall not be admissible in evidence in any other proceeding. The commissioner or the State Health Officer may withhold from public inspection any examination or investigation report for so long as they deem necessary to protect the person examined from unwarranted injury or to be in the public interest.
Ala. Code § 27-21A-24 (1975)