Concerns over private medical records have been raised as Hong Kong implements an Electronic Health Record (eHR) Sharing System. This aims to seamlessly transfer medical histories and provide more efficient and accurate medical care.

The eHR was officially launched on Monday. It will enable doctors from different healthcare facilities to retrieve patients' prescription histories, medical test results, previous diagnoses and also adverse reactions.

Despite multiple benefits that the eHR system promises, the city's health authorities believe further work is needed to ensure patients are not at risk of having their privacy violated by online criminals.

Hong Kong will adopt an opt-in approach so people will have to volunteer to participate.

Secretary for Food and Health Ko Wing-man said the government would closely watch Australia's progress in enhancing its eHR system, especially their measures in maximizing confidentiality and privacy infringement.

A two-factor authentication process using a user's name, password and security token deployed in the eHR's soft launch would remain in place, eHR Commissioner Sidney Chan Shuen-yiu said.

Patients will also immediately receive an SMS message when their records are accessed as another layer of security.

But the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data (PCPD) was doubtful whether the notification could pinpoint the exact healthcare professional scanning the patient's information.

The commissioner was not convinced all healthcare professionals logged on to the system to review patients' data only on a "Need-to-Know" basis. In other words, it is impossible to know the real motivation of each healthcare professional who accesses the shared health record data.

At the same time, the PCPD said healthcare providers should immediately close the accounts of departed staff who used to have access to the eHR sharing system, to avoid the unwanted divulging of patients' data.

Ko said important details such as the sharing of sensitive information, including sexually transmitted diseases and mental health disorders, would have to be hammered out. The chance is many patients are reluctant to disclose certain health information, so they might withhold it. Ko noted that incomplete health data could affect doctors' diagnosis and treatment.

The introduction of eHR in Hong Kong brings the city to the forefront in the digitizing of medical care. Singapore is still in the experimental stage, but Australia has already fully implemented it.

jenny@chinadailyhk.com

Secretary for Food and Health Ko Wing-man (third from right) and other guests officiate at the launch ceremony of the Electronic Health Record Sharing System on Monday to enhance the continuity of care, promote public-private partnerships and improve the quality of healthcare services. Provided to China Daily

(HK Edition 03/08/2016 page8)