AN IPAD FOR EVERY DOCTOR:Victorian Labor promises

Renai LeMay
Tuesday, 09 November 2010 18:00

IT Policy - Government Tech Policy

Victorian Premier John Brumby yesterday promised every doctor in the state's public hospital system would be issued with an Apple iPad if his incumbent Labor Government was returned to power in the state's upcoming election.

The pledge was listed as a minor item in Labor's health policy released yesterday, with the Premier stating his party was committed to giving doctors the tools they needed to provide the best care to Victorian patients.

'As technology evolves, so do the tools that our doctors need. We will provide $12 million to buy iPads for every doctor working in Victoria's public hospital system, so they have easy access to time-critical clinical information at a patient's bedside,' Brumby said.

The Victorian Coalition was less specific in its promise of new technology for hospitals, releasing its own health policy, but its own list of promises (PDF) did contain a pledge that it, too, would implement new 'mobile technology' if it took power '” although the Coalition's policy appeared to be more focused on electronic health solutions in general.

'A national e-health identifier has the potential to cut costs and provide better quality health care,' the Coalition wrote, referring to Federal Labor's $466.7 million health identifier project, which is gradually gathering steam in the wake of the Federal Election.