Mon 28th Jan 2019
My Health Record: Insecure, Incomplete, Not Fit For Purpose. Why the Rush?
Is the rush to force 15 million Australians into the My Health Record (MHR) system without their consent just a ploy to have their private data available for commercial purposes at a later date? Would you trust this and future Governments to do the right thing?, asked Dr Tim Woodruff, president, Doctors Reform Society.
On 31st January millions of Australians will have a My Health Record created for them, whether they are aware or not. The main stated purpose is to improve patient care. It has little chance of doing that because it will be so incomplete in most cases. Its other purpose is data collection for ‘research’ purposes. The legislation to control such use has not been passed.
There are many problems with MHR. It could be useful if it was designed and implemented properly. The track record suggests that that has never been the intention. It took a Senate Inquiry to find a huge range of problems with the program, both in its design and in its implementation. The Government reluctantly accepted it needed to make some changes but it has forged on, neglecting or delaying dealing with many of the faults exposed.
One thus has to ask ‘What is the Government’s real agenda?’ Is it commercial, in league with business posing as researchers? These questions could be addressed if the Government stepped back, delayed implementation, and reconsidered how it is addressing the issue.
The Government should abandon indefinitely forcing people into MHR without consent until they have the many issues raised by the Senate Inquiry adequately addressed.
Dr Tim Woodruff, President, Ph 0401042619
Dr Con Costa, Vice President, Ph 0418400309