Fed: Federal govt considers health ID card
SYDNEY, Aug 30 AAP - The federal government is considering introducing a national systemof health card identification numbers, the Australian Financial Review reported today.
The system would be used to track cardholders from cradle to grave through both theprivate and public health systems.
Federal Health and Ageing Department chief informaiton officer Rob Wooding told a healthindustry conference recently that the introduction of a "universal identifier" was oneof the department's top priorities, the paper reported.
But the AFR also quoted an unidentified senior doctor who warned that the introductionof such a system raises the spectre of the introduction of a de facto Australia card.
Federal privacy commissioner Malcolm Crompton said his office is watching the developmentof the proposal closely.
A Health Department spokeswoman appeared to sidestep the issue when approached by thepaper, neither confirming or denying the scheme was under active consideration.
AAP pa/rs
KEYWORD: ID CARD
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