Alarm raised over Australian health network

The Australian privacy commissioner is concerned that HealthConnect, a federal health network, is lumbering toward implementation without adequate privacy protections:

Australian IT - Alarm raised over health network (Karen Dearne, FEBRUARY 23, 2005):

"'Given the magnitude of the project and the sensitive nature of health information, a robust privacy framework needs to be established as a priority,' the OFPC says in its submission on the roadmap HealthConnect Business Architecture.

'The architecture includes many references to privacy protocols or rules which will apply to HealthConnect, although their substance and standing is unclear.'

While the OFPC regulates the private health sector and handling of personal information by federal and ACT government agencies, the privacy of health information within the states is regulated at the state level. "