An electronic system accessible via a website is expected to be in place by early 2009.
Under the new "e-health" system, patients will be given a unique number to allow them, their doctor and other health specialists to access their medical history.
Patients will no longer have to transfer records when switching doctors and emergency departments will have access to a patient's medical history.
Some European countries already have such a system in place.
"It's the direction we need to go," Health Minister John Hill said. "It'll produce an enormously more efficient system."
Health Department chief executive Tony Sherbon said people would opt to join the program, which would allow for better coordination of care.
Dr Sherbon chairs the National E-Health Transition Authority, which is made up of state and federal health department heads.
The authority last week released its plan to improve the electronic communication of health information. It is working to ensure both information and privacy concerns are properly managed, Dr Sherbon said. Under the proposed model, patients will have automatic access to their own records and will be able to add their comments or query information.
Doctors and specialists will have their own access codes to a patient's history and information, including allergies, immunisations and any medication.
The information also will be available for use by researchers, who will have to obtain the consent of anyone involved.
Mr Hill said the sticking point in Australia was the need for a unique number that gives access to the information.
"You need a unique identifier to start with, which we don't have," he said.
"If you recall, a number of years ago the population rejected the Australia Card (a national identity card), so trying to work through that I think is really the issue.
"There's a lot of work to be done."
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Tory Shepherd
Quelle/Source: NEWS.com.au, 27.12.2007
