Australia's national electronic health record database, launched in 2012 at a cost of $1 billion, has led to significant physician and patient frustration and the resignation of four government healthcare advisors, according to a Courier Mail report.
Since its launch, 888,825 Australians have registered for the service, but only 5,427 records currently exist in the database, and the records that do exist can be accessed only by providers in certain parts of the country, according to the report. The Australian Medical Association claims there is less than a 0.5 percent chance a physician will find any useful information in the database.
Additionally, the Courier Mail reports former government advisor Mukesh Haikerwal, AO, who called the system "shambolic" shortly before resigning, says the little information in the system may not be accurate, compromising patient safety.
Australia's new health minister, Peter Dutton, has pledged a "comprehensive assessment" of the system, according to the report.
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