Govt issues e-health timeline

The Federal Government has released a new blueprint for the deployment of its ambitious $466.7 million e-health project.

The new e-health implementation timetable (Click image to enlarge)
(Screenshot by Luke Hopewell/ZDNet Australia)

The blueprint is part of the government's latest e-health progress report issued this week, which includes a development timeline for the roll-out of the e-health program, as well as the development of personally controlled e-health records and telehealth initiatives.

The government plans to have the national infrastructure for the PCEHR in place within the first quarter of 2012, with further enabling legislation ideally set to pass in March to April.

The government's telehealth push is also now underway, with telehealth rebates from Medicare now available. The plan will also see the government set up its after hours, e-health video-conferencing facility in July next year.

The Federal Government's first e-health record sites have also become operational, according to the progress report.

The Federal Government announced last year that Brisbane, Melbourne and Hunter Valley patients would be the first in Australia to get access to personally controlled e-health records (PCEHR). The $12.5 million funding was split between Queensland's GPpartners, the Hunter Valley's GP Access and Melbourne's East GP Network as part of the government's $466.7 million e-health project.

"The first wave consists of three sites, which are now contracted to the Commonwealth Government to begin implementation of e-health records within their geographical footprint," the report said, adding that the government plans to review the lead implementation sites in April to June of next year.