MEDIA RELEASE – Wednesday 7 November 2018
My Health Record Changes Welcomed But Opt-Out Period Must Be Extended
Dr Kerryn Phelps has welcomed proposed changes to My Health Record announced by the Morrison Government today but has again called for an extension of the opt-out period until the changes can be properly dealt with by the Parliament.
Dr Phelps has raised significant concerns about privacy and security aspects of My Health Record, an electronic health records system into which around 17 million Australians will be automatically enrolled if they do not opt out by next Thursday.
Health Minister Greg Hunt today released a raft of possible changes, following pressure from doctors and other medical professionals, as well as a Senate Inquiry into the e-health records system.
"I welcome these proposed changes but it really does seem that Health Minister Greg Hunt has been dragged kicking and screaming to the table at five minutes to midnight," Dr Phelps said.
"The simple reality is that the House of Representatives doesn't sit again until November 26 and that is beyond the current opt-out date.
"Minister Hunt needs to urgently extend the opt-out period in order for the Parliament to do its job to negotiate and then pass appropriate amendments so that privacy and security concerns are properly addressed."
Proposed changes include increased penalties for misuse, strengthening provisions to safeguard against domestic violence, prohibiting an employer from requesting and using health information and a ban on health information or de-identified data being released to private health insurers.
The Government also said will also conduct a review to consider whether it is appropriate that parents have default access to the records of children aged 14 to 17-years-old.
This adds to proposed Government amendments that have already passed the lower house, including that law enforcement agencies can only access a person's record with a warrant or court order and anyone who chooses to cancel a record at any time will have that record permanently deleted.
As things currently stand, around 17 million Australians will be automatically enrolled in My Health Record if they do not opt out by next Thursday.
"Many people I've spoken to in the community think that electronic health records have the potential to be beneficial if used in the correct way but they remain extremely concerned that their privacy and security are at risk under the current rules," Dr Phelps said.
"Today's announcement was a step in the right direction but more needs to be done to calm the community's and medical profession's concerns."
