Dotcoms Clamour For Health Business

Legions of dotcom companies are pitching IT solutions to the federal government to participate in the development of a national database of electronic health records for all Australians.

While the government's online HealthConnect initiative has been stalled by privacy and security concerns, healthcare providers are moving ahead with the development of information systems in preparation for its introduction.

The legislative framework required to develop electronic health records for 19 million Australians is being debated in Parliament with the Australian Medical Association (AMA) threatening to withdraw support if privacy is not central to the operation of the system.

Despite the fiery debate surrounding implementation of a national database, one IT health provider iSoft is already developing a system sourcing information from medical practitioners and public hospitals as well as diagnostic test results and other data.

ISoft already provides information systems for 260 public hospitals in Australia and has launched a Web site, HEALTHeverything.com, which allows healthcare professionals and consumers to manage their own information via the Internet.

It is an opt-in service allowing patients to choose who can access the information as well as enter medical histories, allergies, test results and referrals. Presently, information between hospitals and healthcare providers is limited and iSoft CEO Graeme Wilson says the Web site will improve efficiencies, provide access to potentially life saving information and let patients control their medical histories.

He said the Web site will not be fully operational until privacy concerns are addressed by the federal government and its HealthConnect initiative is implemented in the next two years.

"Obviously the site cannot operate without the support of healthcare providers but we are already a leading IT company in this sector and they have shown their support. We are in the process of replacing systems in a number of NSW hospitals including Westmead," Wilson said.

An AMA survey conducted in July this year revealed that 66 per cent of consumers would not consider their records safe if maintained and safeguarded by the government; if Medicare numbers are used as a unique patient identifier, public debate is critical.

The AMA's general practice director, Prudence Power, said: "To say there is a lot of work to do is clearly an understatement."

The AMA is seeking a tough legal framework relating to privacy that links the Better Medication Management System, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme system and HealthConnect, all of which is currently being established under separate draft legislation.

"We are concerned at the piecemeal approach to privacy legislation being developed in isolation from the broader HealthConnect proposal," Power said.

Power also said there were members of the medical profession setting up companies to provide health information online or services allowing doctor and patient interaction via the Internet.

Department of Health and Aged Care assistant secretary Philip Hagan said Australia is following similar health industry trends overseas where dotcom companies are putting information management solutions to government.

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