PM Backs Off E-Health

Unfortunately, the Australian e-health reform agenda is faltering. "Frustration is rising over changes to plans for the centrepiece HealthConnect network, and a perception the federal Government is trying to duckshove responsibility for health technology to the states."

"Australian College of Health Informatics spokeswoman Evelyn Hovenga said the federal Government had "totally changed its tack" over the past 12 months."

"Professor Hovenga said local informatics experts were increasingly frustrated that work they had done on e-health projects, including HealthConnect, "had not been published or necessarily made available to the public"; nor were consultants permitted to reveal details."

"Everyone's very frustrated because a lot of good work has been done, and it's just not being taken up," she said.

"We have in Australia people who are leading work that is being hailed internationally. Yet we're having terrible trouble even getting fundamental support."

Like with so many things in life, it does not appear electronic health information accessibility or international recognition will happen overnight.