The bill, which the federal government says will bring the management of health records into the 21st century, passed with the support of the coalition despite the concerns of some MPs.
Liberal MP Andrew Laming said Australia must learn from the experiences of the US and Britain where similar electronic records systems have been implemented.
"And to go down the same path and make the same mistakes is what makes this (opposition) side of the chamber so determined to ask the right questions about electronic health records," Mr Laming said.
"It's going to happen. The only debate in here is how we sequence the work."
Health Minister Tanya Plibersek said the current system was outdated.
"At present, consumer health records are scattered over a range of locations in the clinics rather than being attached to the consumer and easily available at the point of care," she told parliament.
"It means consumers need to retell their story every time they visit a different health care provider."
Ms Plibersek said the government was aware the change was a complex area of reform.
The national system would have to be built over time, as consumers and healthcare providers joined.
There would be strict operational rules to help protect consumers and the national records system.
The Personally Controlled Electronic Health Records Bill 2011 and the related Personally Controlled Electronic Health Records (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2011 were both passed at the third reading on the voices.
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Quelle/Source: National Affairs, 29.02.2012
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