NeHTA strategic plan to unlock stalled eHealth

James Riley
Friday, 02 October 2009 12:49

IT Policy - Government Tech Policy

The government agency set up to assist the roll-out of electronic health services in Australia, the National eHealth Transition Authority, has released its much-anticipated strategic plan for progressing the nation's stalled eHealth initiatives.

The NeHTA plan positions the organisation as a long term implementation authority, extending the role it has so far played in standards setting. NeHTA was established by Federal, state and territory health departments and is chaired by businessman David Gonski.

While NeHTA enjoys committed fundng until 2012, its strategic plan 2009-12 clearly sees a longer term role for the body during the long implementation phase – an evolution of its primary role in setting standards that created an environment conducive to eHealth adoption.

NeHTA chief executive officer Peter Fleming said the strategic plan responded to – and reflected – the goals of the Rudd Government’s national eHealth strategy released last December.

It also reviewed the recommendations of the National Health and Hospital Reform Commission – including plans to create an Individual Healthcare Identifier.

NeHTA calls for the urgent delivery of the IHI numbers, which have already raised the protests of privacy advocates.

"NEHTA has considered its future work program based on the National Strategy and other important work completed this year including the National Health and Hospital Reform Commission recommendations," Fleming said.

"As a result we have produced our Strategic Plan to clearly show our stakeholders across the health sector the directions we are taking to drive the take-up and adoption of e-health."

Fleming said the IHI was an "essential foundation" for delivering eHealth services, and with secure messaging and authentication would form the backbone of Australia’s eHealth systems.

He said NeHTA had an important role to play in coordinating the roll-out of eHealth services, with priorities including referrals and discharge information, pathology and diagnostic imaging, and medications management.

Though NeHTA would continue its role in increasing the awareness of eHealth, Fleming also outlined a more formal lead in the "progression" of eHealth services in Australia.

"This priority reflects that NEHTA has a significant role in leading the direction of the current and future state of e-health in Australia, including future initiatives and the impacts on privacy and policy," NeHTA said in a statement.