RACGP disappointed with ACeH committee structure
16 October 2015
The newly established Australian Commission for e-Health (ACeH) Implementation Taskforce Steering Committee must include medical organisation representation, not just individual appointments, if it is to succeed.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) President Dr Frank R Jones said it was disappointing the committee, which will oversee the My Health Record system, did not include RACGP representation or any representative group.
“Appointments to the ACeH Implementation Taskforce Steering Committee should have been an inclusive process featuring stakeholder representative groups, not just individuals,” Dr Jones said.
“As the peak representative body for 31,500 GPs working in or towards a career in general practice with a history of being at the forefront of innovation, standards and education in the health sector, it is unacceptable that we and others have been excluded from the taskforce.
“This is regrettable. We have always stated we wish to work in collaboration with government.
“I do acknowledge there are clinician representatives on the committee, however they have been appointed in a personal professional capacity and not as a representative voice.”
The RACGP has been an advocate for a national shared electronic health record system, recently welcoming the commitment made by the Government in its 2015-16 budget to strengthen the national e-Health system.
Dr Jones said there were significant problems with the design and functionality of current My Health Record (previously known as the personally controlled electronic health record, or PCEHR), that required meaningful engagement between the Federal Government and general practice if it were to be a success and drive adoption amongst GPs, who will be the main users of the system.
“The RACGP sees the role of the ACeH as providing streamlined governance and accountability for all e-Health product design and release,” Dr Jones said.
“The new commission must have appropriate governance and key health sector stakeholder representation, including the RACGP.”