Health records breached

A NEWS Corp investigation can reveal there have already been nine data breaches involving the Federal Government’s My Health Record system.

Health Minister Greg Hunt has bowed to mounting public pressure and strengthened privacy provisions relating to accessing the record.

Mr Hunt also announced there would be changes to the deletion of records and extended the opt-out period after meeting with doctors from the Australian Medical Association and College of General Practitioners on Tuesday night.

The opt-out period will be extended for a month until November 12.

News Corp can also reveal Australians who want to opt out of My Health Record using a paper form cannot unless they live in a rural area.

A survey of 471 doctors by industry magazine Australian Doctor has found eight in 10 doctors plan to opt out of the record because they do not trust it will be useful or kept up to date.

It has now been confirmed that claims there has never been a data breach of the My Health Record are not true.

Mr Hunt has been claiming the record has militarygrade security and said: “The advice that I have (is) no data breaches and no releases to any law enforcement agencies after six years.”

But in its publication sent to doctors, the Australian Digital Health Agency, which runs the record, admits there have been nine data breaches associated with the record.

“In the 2016-17 financial year, there were six data breach notifications within My Health Record, and three notifications in the previous financial year,” the agency admitted.