Draft Concept of Operations for the personally controlled electronic health records (PCEHR) has been released.
12 April 2011. As part of the 2010/11 federal budget, the Government announced a $466.7 million investment over two years for a national Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record (PCEHR) system for all Australians who choose to register online, from 2012-13. To progress further consultation with stakeholders on the PCEHR, the Government has released the draft Concept of Operations document.
Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon said the release of the blueprint was a major step forward for national health reform and the development of personally controlled electronic health records (PCEHR).
"E-health is one of the critical elements of the Gillard Government's efforts to modernise our health system through national health reform," Minister Roxon said.
"E-health records will drive saver, more efficient and better quality healthcare for Australians.
"Patients will no longer have to remember every immunisation, every medical test, every prescription as they move from doctor to doctor.
"This national blueprint, and the consultation and development that will follow, will help to develop e-health records for all Australians who want one from 1 July 2012."
The draft Concept of Operations document was released today and describes how the PCEHR system will work, its benefits, the structure and the important privacy principles. The release is intended to prompt further discussion on its design and input into areas that require further discussion and development.
The full media release is available here: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/mr-yr11-nr-nr066.htm