This appeared a few days ago:
Where's the evidence My Health Record improves outcomes?
The Australian Digital Health Agency, and its departing CEO, Tim Kelsey, refused Australian Doctor's access to their studies
10th December 2019
The government agency running My Health Record is refusing to release five reports on whether the system is improving clinical care, saying interested parties will have to submit a Freedom of Information request to read them.
Questions about the future benefit of the multibillion-dollar system were addressed by the Australian National Audit Office, which last month said the system's implementation was on track to reduce duplication of tests and adverse drug events as well as saving doctors time on chasing up patient information.
However the difficulties in accessing robust evidence that it is making a significant difference to clinical care has fueled clinical disillusionment with a system that has now been running for seven years.
The Audit Office referred to five studies commissioned by the Australian Digital Health Agency that had been completed between July 2018 and January 2019.
Among them was one which apparently showed My Health Record had the “potential to effect significant changes in GPs’ prescribing and pathology test-ordering behaviours”.
However, the description of the study given by the Audit Office was two lines long with no details on methodology, number of GPs involved, definitions of “significant” changes or anything else.
Australian Doctor attempted to track down all five studies online - including via PubMed - without success. We then contacted the Australian Digital Health Agency for copies.
The agency refused.
"Due to the nature of information you have requested, and the need to consult with affected third parties, the agency is not able to provide administrative access to the documents you have requested," a spokesperson said.
It then added: "However access may be considered under Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act)."
"To meet the formal requirements for the FOI Act, a request for documents under the FOI Act must meet the following formal requirements - be in writing, state the request is made under the FOI Act, give enough information for us to identify the requested documents; and tell us how we can contact you..."
Australian Doctor has filed a Freedom of Information request for the studies.
Lots more here:
That a legitimate clinical publication was refused evidence regarding the clinical usefulness of the #myHealthRecord is just astonishing. Surely the public has a right to know about how a $1.0 billion public investment is performing.
Frankly if Tim had not already resigned I believe he should have been fired for this sort of arrogance and secrecy.
This story is like something out of a police state – or have we become one that public officials can behave like this?
David.
No comments:
Post a Comment