GPs call for individual health identifier

Members of United General Practice Australia (UGPA) – the Rural Doctors Association of Australia, the Australian General Practice Network, The Australian Medical Association, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine and General Practice Registrars Australia – want to see health identifiers become a routine part of medical practice.

UGPA believes eHealth is long overdue in Australia and a commitment is needed from Government to make eHealth a reality in Australia.

eHealth was recognised as a vital element to health system reform in the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission report last July, and UGPA agrees that it needs to be an important focus of policy and Government attention. 

The Individual Health Identifier is a fundamental requirement to achieving a comprehensive approach to eHealth and connecting care to enable reform of the Australian health system.

If the majority of benefits from the implementation of eHealth are to be derived for the whole health system the investment must be made in primary health care.

General practice must be supported by Government to make that investment.

To bring general practice on board strategically targeted, long-term funding is needed for change and adoption activities.

15 June 2010

For further information:

RACGP            Dr Chris Mitchell 0427 878 383

AMA               Dr Andrew Pesce 0428 300 361

AGPN             Dr Emil Djakic 0428 256563

RDAA             Dr Nola Maxfield 0418 335 344, Steve Sant 0419 770 010

GPRA              Mr Amit Vohra 0431 909 502

ACRRM            Dr Jeff Ayton 0418 564 087

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