Limited window to opt out of government digital health records

Every Australian will automatically be given a digital My Health Record – an online summary of personal health information, uploaded by care providers – this year, and if you don’t want your medical data centrally stored and shared, there’s only a limited window to opt out.

The aim of the record is to make it easier for doctors to keep track of your health information in one place and make it simpler for them to share your information with other healthcare providers, and more than five million Australians have already signed up.

The My Health Record project also has the support of Australia’s peak health bodies including the Australian Medical Association, the Royal College of Australian General Practitioners, Pharmacy Guild of Australia, Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association and the Consumers Health Forum.

And the government has assured users that the strongest safeguards possible would be used to protect personal information. 

In a statement, Minister for Health Greg Hunt said information relating to allergies, medical conditions, treatments, medicines, and test reports could be securely shared between clinicians and their patients. This would effectively mean you wouldn’t need to write down or remember all the information from one doctor to another and health professionals would be able to access information more easily.

“My Health Record provides many benefits to patients, including reduced duplication of tests, better coordination of care for people with chronic and complex conditions, and better informed treatment decisions,” Hunt added. 

But if you don’t want your data stored, you have the three months between July 16 and October 15 to opt out, and you can do so via the My Health Record website or by calling 1800 723 471. (Australians will be able to cancel their My Health Record at any time after the opt out period. Equally, people will be given to create an account at a later date if they choose to opt out between July and October.)

The government had previously invested $374.2 million over two years to expand Australia’s digital health system. If you do choose to keep a My Health Record, you’ll be given the opportunity to upload personal notes and information, and ask health professionals to withhold specific test reports and other medical information from your record.

Australian Digital Health Agency CEO Tim Kelsey said medical customers would have control over who saw and accessed their health information. “Strict privacy control, set by an individual, is a central feature of My Health Record,” Kelsey added. “Each person can control the information in his or her My Health Record, and the healthcare provider organisations that can have access.”

Will you keep a My Health Record, or will you opt out?