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Consumer Forum - February 2008



13 February 2008, Overseas Passenger Terminal, Wellington

The Health Information Strategy Action Committee (HISAC) is to provide an opportunity for consumer groups and advocates to come together to advise HISAC on how it might go about engaging with the community around the current and future health information environment in New Zealand.

The Health Information Strategy for New Zealand (HIS-NZ) expressly discounts the creation of a single national repository of personally identifiable health information or a single national Electronic Health Record. However, the strategy does signal increased information sharing amongst health providers involved in episodes of care. The strategy is concerned with information that is used for population health, the funding, and planning of health services, and research purposes.

In particular there is a need to begin a dialogue with the community around access to and the sharing of personal health information in New Zealand. How might this environment operate in practice and what are the specific concerns that exist and how might they be addressed in the current and proposed future environments.

With the move towards more patient-focussed models of integrated care, patient concerns around the privacy and appropriate control of information use and the sharing are understandable. HISAC wishes to begin a process of engagement and dialogue so that we may identify areas of concern and agree a way forward.

Expressions of interest to attend this inaugural forum on 13 February 2008 in Wellington are open to consumer groups and advocates. A maximum of 50 may attend. Travel costs will be paid. Expressions of interest need to be registered with HISAC by Wednesday 19 December, or at a later date by agreement.

The forum is being organised by the Health Information Strategy Action Committee with support and sponsorship from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner, the Office of the Health and Disability Commissioner, and the Ministry of Health.

Health Information Consumer Forum Flyer & Expression of Interest (PDF, 95 KB)
Agenda, Outline of the Day, Background Briefing Note (Word, 674 KB)

Relevant Documents:
Key Directions for the Primary Health Care Strategy (PDF, 881 KB)
Health Information Privacy Code 1994 (PDF, 57 KB)
HIS-NZ (PDF, 1 MB)
Guide to the National Health information Collections (PDF, 155 KB)
Background Report on the NHI (PDF, 1015 KB)

If you would like to make any enquiries regarding further information about the Health Information Consumer Forum then please contact enquiries@HISAC.govt.nz