One in 10 Aussies opt out of health record
More than 2.5 million Australians have opted out of creating a record in the My Health Record system according to figures released by the Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA).
The ADHA said based on the number eligible for Medicare — 25,459,544 — about 90.1% had opted to have records in the system which has been dogged by controversy. This means 2,520,494 people have opted out.
While the opt-out period ended on 31 January 2019, Australians can cancel and have their My Health Record permanently deleted from the system at any time.
A My Health Record allows healthcare providers involved in your care to view your health records. Health professionals can upload, view and share documents, giving them a more detailed picture with which to make decisions, diagnose and provide treatment to you.
Were you one of the 2.5 million Australians who opted out of creating a My Health Record? Why did you make this decision?
I opted out months ago. No way was I trusting a govt program to keep my details safe. How many times in the last couple of years have we heard about breaches in government internet security? From what I have read many hospitals, health facilities and medical practitioners are not set up for the MHR anyway. I carry a card with a couple of pertinent personal medical facts. That's enough for me.