A judge in Utrecht has ruled work can continue on developing a new electronic filing system for patients, the NRC says on Wednesday.

One doctors’ organisation, the VPH, had gone to court to argue for the project to be halted because it opposes the electronic exchange of patient documents, the NRC reports.

The court ruled the way in which the electronic filing system is being developed does not conflict with existing privacy legislation because patients have to give permission to be included.

Nor are doctors infringing their own professional rules because they and patients can decide not to include parts of their files in the new storage system.

Protests

The VPH is the smallest Dutch family doctor association, with 650 members. The others, including the massive LHV with over 11,000 members, have all given their backing to the scheme.

Since January 1 2013, patients are being asked if they want to opt in to the system, which allows other healthcare professionals to access their records. The aim is to increase efficiency and reduce medical errors.

By the end of last year, some 400,000 people had agreed to be included.