Plans to launch a digital patient record system next year have taken another knock now members of the the biggest family doctors’ association LHV have called for a rethink.

Doctors are angry that health insurance companies have made supporting the electronic exchange of patient records part of their contract. Without contracts with health insurers, doctors cannot function.
The association has now delayed a vote in favour of the system until health insurers give assurances participation is not compulsory. In addition, doctors are worried about the speed of introduction, the security of private information and their role if things go wrong.
Legal action
Last week, a small family doctors’ association said it would take the four big insurance companies to court over the new electronic patient records system.
A major campaign began on November 5 urging people to give permission for their health records to be held in the new system which will be accessible to doctors, hospitals and pharmacies. The aim is to reduce unnecessary deaths.
The voluntary system replaces the controversial centralised digital records system which the upper house of parliament rejected last year over privacy concerns.
The new set-up has been developed by doctors, hospitals and health insurers and is partly funded by the government. Health minister Edith Schippers gave assurances last year that health insurance companies will not have access to the new system.
Earlier stories
Family doctors head for court over digital patient records
America may have access to Dutch patient records
Digital patient record backers reduce payments to doctors
New life breathed into digital patient record plan