The Federal Government has outlined $233.7 million in Budget spending for the continued rollout of a national eHealth system.

 

The rollout will allow Australians to register to creat a personal eHealth record, which will serve to ensure they receive the care they need from 1 July.

 

“It will be much easier for Australians with complex and chronic health conditions to ensure that all their health practitioners are able to access their medical history, making diagnosis quicker and more accurate.”


“We have made good progress in the past two years in the development of Australia’s eHealth system. This Budget provides certainty as we move from its development to its operation.”


eHealth spending in the 2012-13 Budget comprises –

  • $161.6 million to operate the Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record (PCEHR) system for the next two years, including registration and customer support, adoption support and benefits monitoring and evaluation;
  • $4.6 million to maintain safeguards for privacy-related aspects of the PCHER system. This will mean that people can be confident that the privacy of their personal health information is fully protected; and
  • $67.4 million as the Commonwealth’s share of joint funding with the states and territories for the National E-Health Transition Authority (NEHTA) work program for the next two years. This is to operate and maintain critical services and standards for the secure electronic exchange of health information, including healthcare identifiers, authentication services and eHealth standards.