[Med-privacy] Australian e-record

[Peter Marshall]

Australia approves
      national electronic
      patient records scheme


Lancet 2000; 356: 574 -
576
                                                

Australian health ministers have approved a
scheme, which will link personal health records
from the cradle to the grave. The HealthConnect
scheme is based on unique identifiers and a
smartcard to electronically collate, link, and store
key aspects of patients' personal health
information backed by a system of databases. 

Public pronouncements indicate that the scheme
will be voluntary with strict privacy protection.
However the federal government's new privacy
law, currently before parliament, is described
even by the government as a "light touch"
relying on industry codes and without
independent monitoring. 

The government has said that the scheme will be
viable with even 5% participation. As ill health
is strongly correlated with disadvantage, it is
likely that the scheme will target disadvantaged
people. Pilot schemes are already in place for
some Aboriginal Australians. 

The Minister for Health has said that one of the
advantages of HealthConnect is that
immunisation reminders can be sent out. In
Australia, failure to have your child immunised
is linked to the suspension of the child's
endowment payments. However, some years ago
Australians fought hard against the introduction
of an "Australia Card". It seem this may now be
being introduced through the back door. 

Meredith Carter, Bebe Loff