Privacy isn’t some luxury that only a select few would get in the world; it is a right entitled to every human being. With the advent of digital technologies, the word privacy has come up a lot and, for the most part, not for good reasons.
Cyberspace is the prime target for prying eyes because users tend to be online more and use a mediocre password for their profiles.
However, recent events have made it clear that hackers target big profile companies and even government institutions to leverage data for ransom or other illegal practices. Healthcare is a field that has also become a prime target of hackers because of the private information that it carries.
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My Health Record – an essential conversation to have in Australia
By Andrew Howard
The recent My Health Record (MyHR) debate has been essential for Australia – across government, technology and health sectors, as well as, with the broader community. It’s demonstrated how as new technology infrastructures are deployed and technologies evolve, we need to ensure that legislative frameworks keep pace.
And that people, not efficiencies, remain the centre of the system. Because those who engage, support or interact with the MyHR system need to understand it will support their personal health journey now and in the future.
E-health is changing the health sector
We know that new technologies are rapidly changing Australia’s health system and the way it operates in the future will be vastly different to the way it operates today. People will receive more health information through technology-enabled systems and devices. Many consultations will be done virtually, supported by measurement and diagnosis systems that are closer to the consumer’s point of need. Surgery, too, has already begun to be managed by computers. In the future many procedures will be monitored by humans – the same way we trust the autopilot in a plane – if we have extraordinarily well-trained pilots.
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Researchers label Australian data-sharing legislation a 'significant misalignment'
The proposed legislation has been called out for prioritising the perceived greater good instead of respecting minimal rights of the individual.
A team of researchers from the University of Melbourne has called the government's proposed data-sharing legislation a "significant misalignment", concerned that by not acknowledging and protecting the fundamental right to privacy of individuals, there will be little chance of establishing trust in the use of public data.
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Facebook says 50 million users affected by 'security flaw'
By Munsif Vengattil
29 September 2018 — 3:24am
Facebook has discovered a security flaw affecting about 50 million user accounts which could have allowed attackers to take over the accounts, the social networking company said on Friday.
Facebook has since fixed the vulnerability and informed law enforcement, it said.
Instagram co-founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger have resigned as chief executive officer and chief technical officer of the photo-sharing app owned by Facebook Inc, with the pair giving scant explanation.
Attackers stole Facebook access tokens through its "view as" feature, which they could then use to take over people's accounts. "View as" is a feature that allows users to see what their own profile looks like to someone else.
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Posted on September 28, 2018 ADHA Propaganda
Why leave my Health on Record?
The question really is, would you benefit from having a My Health Record? Recently there has been some vigorous debate about the benefits or drawbacks of having a My Health Record. This is because of the Australian Government’s decision to provide us all with an online health record by the end of this year, 2018. Sydney North Primary Health Network is here to help answer some key questions or concerns and dispel any myths you may have heard when it comes to the benefits of having a My Health Record.
First – let’s establish in simple language what a My Health Record is?
My Health Record is an individualised online summary of your key health information that all Australians will get unless they tell the Australian Government they don’t want one by November 15 this year.
When you have a My Health Record, your health information can be viewed securely online, from anywhere, at any time – even if you move or travel. You can access your health information from any computer or device that is connected to the internet. Whether you’re visiting a GP for a health check, or in an emergency room following a serious accident and are unable to talk, healthcare providers
involved in your care can access relevant health information, such as:
- Allergies;
- Medical history and emergency contacts;
- Medicines you are taking;
- Medical conditions you have been diagnosed with; and even
- Pathology test results like blood tests;
- Advance Care Plans.
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QLD Health is now uploading pathology and diagnostic reports to My Health Record
27/09/2018
Some Queensland Health facilities are now sending approved pathology and diagnostic imaging tests to patients’ My Health Records. Healthcare providers registered with the My Health Record system can access this information as soon as it is uploaded to a patient’s My Health Record.
With an increase in Queensland Health documents being sent to the My Health Record system, GPs can expect to receive an increase in patient enquiries. Please contact your local PHN for further information.
Visit the
Queensland Health website for more information on how they use the My Health Record system.
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Tough penalties for illegal My Health Record privacy breaches
Sue Dunlevy, National Health Reporter, News Corp Australia Network
September 27, 2018 10:00pm
DOCTORS who access a person’s My Health Record for a pre-employment health check could be jailed for two years, the agency running the record has warned.
The agency was responding to fears raised in a Senate Committee that women who aren’t using contraceptives could be deemed a pregnancy risk and be denied a job if a doctor working for an employer accessed their My Health Record.
Legal firm Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, the ACTU and key unions have told the Senate it appeared doctors working for employers would be able to access a person’s My Health Record when carrying out pre-employment check ups, workers compensation claims and regular mandated health checks.
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Concern over restrained people tracking which pharmacy their child uses
Senate inquiry told My Health Record is putting people fleeing family violence at risk
26th September 2018
Parents banned from contact with their children will still be able to access their My Health Record and track where they receive healthcare, lawyers have warned.
The billion-dollar system has been under scrutiny at a Senate inquiry as the switch is flicked from opt-in to opt-out in an attempt to save the moribund project.
Morry Bailes, president of the Law Council of Australia, says laws underpinning access to records put children and parents fleeing family violence at serious risk.
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Health data breaches on the rise
A JAMA article has warned that while digital health records have potential to improve clinical care, they could also lead to vast patient harm if not properly secured
Researchers from the Center for Quantitative Health at Massacheusetts General Hospital, US, looked at all documented breaches with the US Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2017.
They included 2149 breaches comprising a total of 176.4 million records.
Individual breaches ranged in size from 500 to 78.8 million records.
The most common entity breached was a healthcare provider, with 1503 (70%) comprising a total of 37.1 million records (21%).
While health plan (health insurance) breaches numbered 278 (13%), these accounted for the largest share of breached records at 110.4 million (63%).
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Here’s how My Health Record can improve your care
RENDEZVIEW: IN decades of managing health information, the most common complaint I hear from healthcare professionals is “I can’t get what I need”. The new system can change that, writes Chris Bain.
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ADPCR Staff Writer
News 28 - Sep - 2018
For Individuals
Medicare Rebates Could Be Linked To My Health Record
Despite Privacy Commissioner Angelene Falk confirming there have been 88 privacy breaches of My Health records since 2012, the government may be considering tying having a record, to getting Medicare rebates and medicine subsidies, in the future.
The Federal Government already requires people to get My Health records to take part in trials of its new GP funding system Health Care Homes, which has fueled speculation that they may roll this out nationally. All general practices wanting to take part in the trial must be registered for and contribute to the My Health Record, and enrolled patients must also have a My Health Record.
GP and former AMA president Dr Kerryn Phelps is reported as saying she has massive ethical concerns over mandatory registration with the My Health system, given the issues around privacy and security.
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Estranged parents can track kids through My Health Record, warn lawyers
Partners and children fleeing family violence are being put 'at serious risk'
25th September 2018
Parents banned from contact with their children will still be able to access their My Health Records and track where they receive healthcare, lawyers have warned.
The billion-dollar system has been under scrutiny at a Senate inquiry as the switch is flicked from opt-in to opt-out in an attempt to save the moribund project.
Morry Bailes, president of the Law Council of Australia, says laws underpinning access to records put children and parents fleeing family violence at serious risk.
Currently, anybody with ‘parental responsibility’ can access a child’s records — which could include details about GPs they have seen or the pharmacies dispensing their medications.
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September 25 2018 - 11:00AM
Raewyne Watson supports opting in option for My Health Record makes sense
Peter Daniels ADHA Propaganda
A Port Macquarie woman has come out in support of opting in for My Health Record.
Raewyne Watson, 64, recently addressed the Hastings Macleay Community Reference Group on the topic.
Raewyne retired to Port Macquarie three years ago but registered for a My Health Record - it was originally called ehealth - in 2012.
She says keeping track of her medical history is important to her.
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Trusted Digital Identity Framework
August 2018, version 1.2
21 Sep 2018
Description
The Trusted Digital Identity Framework (TDIF) is a set of rules and standards that accredited members of the digital identity federation must follow. It makes sure everyone has a safe, secure, consistent and reliable way to use government services online.
The framework consists of 16 documents including an overview and glossary.
These documents set the rules and standards for:
- how personal information is handled by participating government agencies and organisations
- the usability and accessibility of identity services
- how the identity system is secured and protected against fraud
- how identity services are managed and maintained
- how this framework will be managed
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Australia’s $315bn opportunity in digital innovation
Digital innovation can deliver $315 billion in gross economic value to Australia over the next decade, according to a new landmark report from AlphaBeta Advisors, commissioned by CSIRO’s Data61.
Launched today at
D61+ LIVE in Brisbane, the
Digital Innovation report outlines the nation’s next billion dollar industries and strategic areas where Australia can succeed in creating data-driven industries that will drive jobs and growth by building on our core strengths as a nation and improving collaboration between research and industry.
While Australia has had economic growth for some time, the report shows the need to increase productivity and find new sources of export competitiveness to secure the economy’s future prosperity in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.
“Every sector of the global economy has been re-defined as a result of digital science and technology and the extensive use of data,” Adrian Turner, CEO at CSIRO’s Data61, said.
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24 September 2018
MHR caught in glare of Senate spotlight
The My Health Record has come under sustained criticism in a Senate inquiry, with witnesses warning that the system’s current platform was outdated and insecure.
Australian Digital Health Agency CEO Tim Kelsey revealed that 900,000 people had exited the MHR since the opt-out phase started in July. The figure included those who quit using call centres or the website; paper forms had yet to be counted.
But Mr Kelsey said that this was a good result, as the agency had expected “significantly higher” opt-out levels, and ADHA polling showed public awareness of the MHR opt-out had risen to 59%.
In other evidence last week, technology experts advised the Senate Community Affairs Committee the current MHR model was outmoded and lacked proper privacy controls.
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Easy anonymity is the curse of the internet
- By Libby Purves
- The Times
- 10:00AM September 24, 2018
COMMENT:
An almost universal desire is wanting your voice to be heard, your opinion aired. For generations most made do with the village pump, the pub, the pamphlet or, with luck, the letters page. Politicians, clerics, commentators, critics, technical experts and those considering themselves “public intellectuals” aired their views more formally and widely. But with the exception of the odd coy literary “anon” and poison-pen letters in block capitals, we knew who said what. So we judged them accordingly, whether as interesting thinkers, misguided fools or spiteful gits.
Then came the internet and, exhilaratingly, everyone could have a say and be outspoken with a chance that the world might agree. Unfortunately, it also became easier to hide, lurk and spit from the safety of darkness. Or to invent any number of imaginary enthusiasts to shower praise on your book or business. That is where we are now: with tweeters and message-boarders pecking one another to death, and Amazon book pages pullulating with deceitful praise from authors or their aunties. Anonymity online is a very mixed blessing.
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September 21 2018 - 6:00PM
My Health Record Information Session to be held at Gloucester Library
Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network is hosting My Health Record information session in September.
Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network (HNECCPHN) is hosting a free information session about My Health Record in Gloucester.
Monday, September 24 learn about Australia’s national digital health record system from noon until 1pm Gloucester Library, 27 Denison Street.
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Is the government telling us the truth about GDPR and our NHS medical data?
If you want to make sure your medical data isn’t shared with third parties for unknown purposes, you may need to take action now. Here’s why – and how.
If you happen to visit your doctor in the next few weeks, you may (or may not) spot a new poster or leaflet; they are NHS blue, with a yellow stripe at the bottom, headlined “Your Data Matters to the NHS”. Like all those e-mails you’ve been receiving asking you to opt in to receiving marketing, the poster and leaflet has been prompted by GDPR – but it’s about something rather different, and the choice you are being offered is an opt out, not an opt in.
Simply put, if you have concerns about what’s being done with your medical records – who is getting access to them, and how are they being used – you have the right to opt out of uses of your own health information for purposes beyond your individual care.
This ‘new’ National Data Opt-out that you may (or may not) hear of is in fact based on one of the old care.data opt-outs, formerly known to doctors and Government as a ‘Type 2’, renamed so that – by 2020, we are told – care providers all across the NHS and care system will be able to see and honour your consent choice about what happens to your medical data.
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Comments welcome!
David.
