Health Record is safe
I AM writing to correct your article, “Privacy groups outraged over failure to inform Aussies about a new government health record” (CP 25/11).
My Health Record places Australians in control of their healthcare and gives authorised healthcare providers secure digital access to key health information at the point of care, wherever that may be.
The article claimed: “There will be no public advertising about how consumers could tell the government they did not want a record set up.”
The Federal government has committed $27.75m to ensure all Australians are aware of the security controls in My Health Record and their right to opt out.
This is in addition to $52.38m which has been allocated to support educate and training for all registered healthcare providers.
The article stated medical receptionists will have access unless you set up a PIN and controls.
Health Record requires each clinical professional to have unique identity credentials as well as conformant clinical software to open a My Health Record.
This is not available to any medical receptionist.
The article stated: “Information will also be made available to researchers.”
The Department of Health has con- sulted on development of a framework for data to potentially be available for research purposes.
There is currently no secondary use of data within the My Health Record and no researchers have access to it. Tim Kelsey, CEO, Australian Digital Health Agency