HISA's Pre-Budget Submission

HISA has prepared a submission for the Federal Government's Budget Process.

Responding to the Treasurer's request for submissions detailing the high impact issues that should be dealt within the Government's first budget, HISA has provided a pre-budget submission on eHealth.

Australia faces significant challenges in achieving both its short and long term eHealth objectives. Central to this is the lack of a clear and broadly shared vision of the eHealth environment we want to deliver and the lack of a plan to guide our development.

In addition to this, Australia is facing a crippling shortage of skills in health informatics and a lack of attention to some of the more immediate needs of current system implementations.

Click here to download a copy of HISA's submission.

This submission is an important contribution from HISA and should be widely read and supported.

What is important is that it is recognised that NEHTA has not managed to develop a coherent plan - the Australian Health Information Council has vacated the field - and Australian e-Health needs serious planning and investment - made in a coherent and planned way.

Education and sensible Standardization are also critical - but it is not clear NEHTA has got any of that right as yet. I suspect they never will.

As the HISA document says - progress is vital - it is up to Government to listen - despite the economic constraints of the current times.

David.