MEDINET SYSTEM

Dr Aline K. Wong asked the Acting Minister for Health what kinds of information will be stored in the MEDINET system; who will be its major users; and what safeguards for confidentiality will be built into the system.

Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: MediNet is a proposed computer network linking public and the private sector participants in the health care delivery system. The objectives of MediNet are to reduce the cost and turnaround time for the preparation, transmission and processing of health care information, and to facilitate a better understanding of the utilisation of health services, and to enable faster access to health information. This would contribute to higher productivity, better patient care and help slow down cost increases.

A MediNet Steering Committee, comprising representatives from government and private hospitals, various government agencies, professional and trade associations, has been formed to look into the feasibility, requirement specifications and other issues related to the implementation of a nationwide medical network, including confidentiality and data access rights to sensitive information.

The kinds of information being considered for storage or processing by MediNet System will include Medisave claims data, health notifications for immunisations and communicable diseases, etc, patients' medical information, drug and surgical supplies data and general medical information databases which will facilitate healthcare planning, patient treatment and research.

It is envisaged that the major users of the network will include government agencies eg. Ministry of Health, Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Labour, CPF Board; government and private hospitals, clinics and pharmacies; medical and surgical suppliers; medical associations and research organisations eg. NUS and insurance companies.

To safeguard confidentiality of data, there will be stringent procedural as well as system controls. Procedural control will include proper and documented work procedures and clear definitions of types of access based on user's job functions and responsibilities. System access control will include use of authorised and predefined terminals, multiple levels of passwords for access and audit trail to enable trace back for subsequent external or internal audit review. Access to patient data will be further safeguarded by an appropriate form of personal authorization.

The MediNet Steering Committee is expected to complete the studies and submit its recommendations by the end of this year.