Aus Govt serious on e-health

AUSTRALIA: The Australian government has indicated that if it doesn’t act now Australia will see a meltdown of its healthcare in the foreseeable future. The government’s health reform plan, launched in July 2009, is clearly aiming at technology to be used to address some of the long-standing problems in healthcare. It has not yet made firm commitments to any of the recommendations of the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission but is starting a consultation program lasting six months; this would be opportune moment for the telecoms industry to become involved in this debate, as shared in a press note.

A huge investment in an e-health system over the next few years is a major recommendation of the commission, which called for a major shake-up of the nation'shealth system, with the Commonwealth taking over the funding of most the state-based services.

The government has also flagged the National Broadband Network as one of the spearheads to be used in this overhaul. The report suggests that by 2012 every Australian should have a personal electronic health record under a sweeping plan for an Australia-wide e-health program linked to the National Broadband Network.

It stresses that the e-health record would at all times be owned and controlled by the individual involved. The plan could see the introducing of a personal card that would carry information such as a patient's vaccinations, medication, test results and past procedures.

The electronic record system has been discussed for over a decade and at previous occasions it has been indicated that it could save $30 billion over a ten year period and that it could lead to a drop in death of around 1300 people per annum.

Under the latest announcement it is expected that by July 1 2010 the government should introduce unique personal identifiers for individuals and for health professionals and organizations.

The Government should set an open technical standards framework for e-health by 2011-12, and should make "significant" funding available for e-health teaching and training, and encourage increased enrolments in health informatics tertiary courses.

The commission says ensuring access to the National Broadband Network (or alternative technology, such as satellite) for all Australians will be critical to the uptake of personally-controlled electronic health records as well as to realise potential access to electronic health information and medical advice.

Do you think it's about time goverments put the stethoscope and mouse together?