E-patient dossier put on hold in Valais
Valais is the second canton in Switzerland, after Geneva, to give its residents access to the electronic patient file. At least, that was the plan. Now the Pirate Party has intervened against the project - due to security concerns. Now the project is on ice.
Starting Sept. 1, patients in Valais will be able to share their electronic medical records and manage their own access rights, according to a media release from the canton. The electronic patient dossier Infomed collects important medical data about patients (examination results, medication intake, hospital discharge letters, etc.). It is supplemented and completed by the various doctors, hospitals and other healthcare professionals consulted by the patient. The use of this e-patient dossier is intended to minimize medical errors and prevent duplicate examinations and prescriptions of medications.
The Pirate Party is now criticizing security aspects of the system and, according to media reports, has made representations to the data protection commissioner in Valais. State Councilor Esther Waeber-Kalbermatten reacted immediately and put the project on hold for the time being in order to have the accusations clarified.
The topic of e-patient dossiers and information security is addressed in the current issue of the specialist publication SicherheitsForum.
