Better health and ageing for all Australians

Media Releases and Communiques

Development of HealthConnect commended

Speaking at the Australian Health Ministers Conference in Adelaide, Federal Health Minister, Dr Michael Wooldridge, said important steps had been taken toward establishing a world-class electronic system for collecting, storing and exchanging health records.

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MW67/01
1 August 2001

Development of HealthConnect commended

Health Ministers today welcomed the significant progress being made in the research and development phase of the proposed national health information network - HealthConnect.

Speaking at the Australian Health Ministers Conference in Adelaide, Federal Health Minister, Dr Michael Wooldridge, said important steps had been taken toward establishing a world-class electronic system for collecting, storing and exchanging health records.

"HealthConnect is an exciting concept with the potential to enhance the quality of care by revolutionising the way health records are managed," Dr Wooldridge said.

"When implemented it will give health care providers and consumers instantaneous access to concise and accurate clinical information at the point of care, while ensuring individual privacy is protected," Dr Wooldridge said.

Since health ministers last met in November 2000, developments have occurred in a number of key areas, including:

  • the establishment of a joint Commonwealth, state and territory HealthConnect program office to manage the planning and development of the electronic network;

  • the allocation of $37 million by all governments to develop essential standards and establish exploratory projects and trial sites that will test components of HealthConnect; and

  • the establishment of an Interim Board that includes government, consumer and provider representatives to oversee HealthConnect.
Over the next two years, HealthConnect will be subject to a comprehensive research and development phase where options for implementing HealthConnect will be tested and evaluated.

Work will also be undertaken to develop a robust privacy framework to underpin the operation of the network. A joint Commonwealth, state and territory Privacy Working Group has been established to oversee this work, including the development of a national health privacy code.

Information on HealthConnect can be found at http://www.healthconnect.gov.au.

Media Contact: Craig Simonetto, Office of Dr Wooldridge, 0413 722 281