Pharmacy Daily | eHealth review

We have entered a key period for the future of eHealth in Australia following Health Minister Dutton’s commissioning of a review of Australia’s Personally Controlled Electronic Health Records program. The PCEHR program has suffered a range of problems, including a failure to attract enough doctors to participate in the project. The Guild is aware that some pharmacies are being approached by Medicare Locals to participate in the PCEHR. While this review is being undertaken, pharmacies should not feel in any way obligated to participate in the PCEHR. In his announcement, the Federal Health Minister also said that a year after the introduction of the electronic health records system only a fraction of Australians have established a record and for those who have, only a few hundred doctors have added a Shared Health Summary. The Review panel will invite submissions from the public along with key stakeholder groups including peak clinical bodies. The Review will report back to Minister Dutton by mid-December 2013 - a very short timeline - after which the government will consider the recommendations and respond. The Guild is currently preparing a submission to the review and once the outcomes of the review are known, the Guild will advise members accordingly. Members who have further questions or concerns regarding the PCEHR should contact their Guild Branch or email ehealth@guild.org.au.

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