http://www.privacy.org.au

Secretary@privacy.org.au

http://www.privacy.org.au/About/Contacts.html	

16 March 2009

The Editor
The Canberra Times

Dear Sir / Madam

Re: Doctor's Concern about Medicare Auditor Powers

Dr Jerris Hayman's letter (CT, 15 March 2009) points out that patients withhold vital information if they know that the confidentiality of their communications with doctors is likely to be breached.

In recent meetings with the Australian Privacy Foundation (APF), Medicare officials indicated they will instruct doctors not to provide clinical information for audit - although it is yet to be seen whether the draft legislation will reflect that undertaking.

But the disclosure even of contact details and the nature of a diagnostic test are sufficient cause to spark an Australian black market economy in health services.

The federal government is proposing other reductions in the protections for health care data as well.  Of greates concern is that its national electronic health record strategy involves widespread sharing of a centralising record.  Such a 'honeypot' would attract a legion of public and private sector bees, not to mention hackers and voyeurs.

Governments must stop hoping for grand solutions that breach patient privacy, and must instead focus on practical approaches to patient care, recognising that treatment is and always will be highly dispersed, and that the data is highly sensitive.

Yours sincerely

Juanita Fernando
Chair
Health Sub Committee
Australian Privacy Foundation