Media Releases

The botched rollout of the compulsory My Health Record (MHR) is about to be forced on millions of unsuspecting Australians as the Government creates a mega database about the private lives of every Australians. As the new Member for Wentworth, Kerryn Phelps and the Senate Inquiry found it was currently not fit for purpose, data could be sold to private companies for commercial gain, and the Government is not telling Australians what it was planning. Read more

The report released today of the Senate Inquiry into My Health Record (MHR) reveals a Government intent on collecting data on patients without their knowledge, without knowing how or how well the data will be used including for commercial purposes, and without telling Australians about the many problems that this Record has. We welcome the recommendation that the Opt Out policy (which forces an MHR on people without telling them) be deferred for a further twelve months whilst the many issues raised are addressed. Read more

Despite the news yesterday of welcome changes to the My Health Record (MHR) to remove legal access for non medical use of data by Government agencies, the real problems with MHR remain in place, said Dr Tim Woodruff, president, Doctors Reform Society Read more

The concept of a digital record to improve the delivery of health care to both individuals and the population sounds great. However the implementation of this concept to date has raised many more questions than answers, said Dr Tim Woodruff, president, Doctors Reform Society. Those who may be at most risk of having their data misused are often the least likely to understand the possible negative consequences or how to avoid them. It’s time for the Federal Government to opt out of forcing people to opt in by default.

Until now people were asked if they wished to have such a record. This has changed and individuals are required to opt out by October 15^th on a website with information which even I find hard to understand. If individuals don’t opt out then their private medical information will be digitised for any health provider to see. This is not informed consent.

There already appear to be examples of people finding that their children have been opted in without the parent’s awareness that they may sometime or other have signed something saying they agree. This is not informed consent.

Access to these records by government agencies with no interest in health eg courts, police, will be permitted without the need for a warrant issued by an independent judicial officer as is currently required. This would appear to be an unreasonable breach of privacy.

The risk of illegal access to data by hackers for private commercial uses is unknown but examples exist of successful hacking happening in resource rich countries like Singapore. This is deeply concerning. Do we need this much concentration of information? Read more

“The shocking evidence displayed on 4 Corners last night suggesting some specialists allegedly rorting the system is an indictment of the Federal Government”, said Dr Tim Woodruff, president, Doctors Reform Society. “Whilst busy giving tax cuts to millionaires and tax evading corporations, the Federal Government underfunds public hospitals and primary, dental, and mental health care in its continuing ideological plan to increase private health care. It forces the desperate to take out private health insurance or wait for years for a public hospital bed, and even to take out small loans to see a specialist in the community instead of waiting a year for a public hospital appointment. It then wastes $11 billion a year propping up this private health industry knowing that out of pocket costs are hurting patients across the country.” Read more

“The vote at the Australian Medical Association’s (AMA) annual meeting yesterday to condemn doctors charging huge copayments should shake the Government to address this major problem with our health system”, said Dr Tim Woodruff, president, Doctors Reform Society. “Before Medicare, failure to pay medical bills was a leading cause of personal bankruptcy. Are we now moving back to those dark days? It is time the Government acted. Firstly it needs to recognise that an increasingly privatised health system brings out the worst in doctors so patients suffer, and secondly it should established a website listing doctors fees for the benefit of patients and referring doctors. Read more

According to an Essential Poll* conducted 6 weeks ago, 48% of Australians think the private health insurance (PHI) rebate should be abolished and the funds directed to decent dental care which would strengthen and broaden Medicare. Dr Tim Woodruff, president, Doctors Reform Society asks “Why do we have to advise our patients on low/middle incomes who are headed for a hip replacement that they have a choice? If they want the surgery when they need it they can devote 25% of their income to PHI and get the surgery done within months, but still often face crippling out of pocket costs. Or they can wait in pain for one to two years on a public hospital waiting hobbling around on narcotic analgesics. What a choice! Read more

“It is disappointing to see reports in the Australian over the last three days indicating a reluctance on the part of the Australian Medical Association (AMA), and a lack of urgency from the Health Minister Mr Hunt about addressing the difficulties patients have trying to find out and compare the charges to see specialists and have procedures performed,” said Dr Tim Woodruff, president, Doctors Reform Society.

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