PSA urges e-Health uptake
March 8, 2016
THE peak organisation for
pharmacists, the Pharmaceutical
Society of Australia (PSA) has
endorsed the federal government’s
establishment of an e-Health pilot
to enable records to improve
coordinated healthcare.
Around one million Australians
living in Penrith and far north
Queensland are being included
in the new ‘opt-out’ program,
originally announced by the Health
Minister Sussan Ley in October last
year (PD 29 Oct 15) after passing
through the lower house (PD 21
Oct 15).
The program is intended to
enable patients to share health
information securely online with
authorised healthcare providers,
including pharmacists.
Contrary to the original ‘opt-in’
program which has attracted a
disappointing number of patients
and healthcare providers, the new
program sets up all residents in
those defined areas with their ‘My
Health Record’ file, with the ability
to opt out if they so choose.
PSA national president Joe
Demarte said more patients
needed to embrace electronic
health and innovation to ensure
health professionals can deliver
better integrated care.
“As the most accessible of health
professionals, pharmacists are
an important resource that can
and should be used to inform
consumers about eHealth records
with a view to ensuring this
important health resource is fully
utilised,” Demarte said.
“We encourage more people
to access eHealth to ensure
consistency of treatment and better
health outcomes for consumers
regardless of where they seek
treatment in Australia.”
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