Australia. Australians invited to comment on proposals for consent, access and privacy

Australia

Australians invited to comment on proposals for consent, access and privacyKeywords: Research projects, Codes of practice

At the end of 2001, Australians were invited to comment on three discussion documents. Two of these concerned the consent processes for HealthConnect. HealthConnect, Australia's proposed network of electronic health records, aims to improve quality and safety in health care by improving the flow of information across the health sector. In order for the network to be effective it is vital that appropriate consent procedures be developed.

The first paper, "Consent and electronic health records – a discussion paper", examines issues affecting informed consent in an e-health environment. The second, "Consent in the HealthConnect trials: outcomes of the HealthConnect consent workshop", builds on the discussion paper by proposing three possible consent models. These models formed the basis for the consent models that are being tested in the first trials of HealthConnect. Consent refers to a consumer agreeing to have his or her health information recorded and stored on an electronic network at the point of care.

A joint Commonwealth, State and Territory initiative, HealthConnect is the subject of a two-year research and development project. The first "live"trials of HealthConnect began in mid October 2002 and are being held in the Clarence municipality of Tasmania and the Katherine region of the Northern Territory. The Tasmanian trial involves participation by adults with diabetes and their care providers, while the Northern Territory trial focuses on the needs of an indigenous and largely mobile population. The trials present the first opportunity to test consent arrangements.

In December, a draft National Health Privacy Code was released for comment. The Minister for Health and Ageing, Kay Patterson, said: "It is very important that everyone in the community has an opportunity to comment on the design of privacy safeguards for their health information".

The National Health Privacy Working Group, a sub-group of the Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council, developed the draft Code. Senator Patterson and her State and Territory colleagues have agreed to release it for a series of public consultations that will run until April 2003. If implemented nationally,the Code would ensure that a set of uniform rules would apply across all States and Territories. The draft Code forms part of a broader national health privacy framework and is a joint Commonwealth, State and Territory initiative.

Further information: "Consent and electronic health records – a discussion paper" and "Consent in the HealthConnect trials: outcomes of the HealthConnect consent workshop are available on the HealthConnect Web site at: www.healthconnect.gov.au/publications/publications.html

The draft National Health Privacy Code can be accessed through the Health Web site at: www.health.gov.au