On September 19 2007 a strategic workshop discussing the challenge of implementing a rational e-health system in Australia was held in Parliament House, Canberra. Convened by Global Access Partners [1], it featured a paper [2] commissioned by the Australian Centre for Health Research and written by Professor Michael Georgeff, Director of E-health Research, Monash University.

The paper "E-Health and the Transformation of Healthcare" [3] discusses the cost to the nation and the individual of continuing with Australia's current disjointed chronic health care system.

It is estimated that improved knowledge sharing and better care plan management for patients with chronic diseases could generate direct savings to the health care system of $1.5billion per annum. Savings to the community from associated non-healthcare costs are of the same order.

The main aims of the workshop were for the 22 delegates to determine the best way to:

1. Encourage health care providers to connect with one another;
2. Track health events across the continuum of care;
3. Create a broadband network of health services.

The workshop participants were from government and private organisations in the health sector including representatives from the Department of Health & Ageing [4], Department of Veterans' Affairs [5], Medibank Private [6] and the Australian General Practice Network [7], all contributing to a lively and productive discussion.

Specifically, a research led project focusing on the delivery of e-health services resulted from the meeting and it is expected similar workshops will be held in the coming months to develop a continuity strategy and progress meeting outcomes.

The 19 September workshop was kindly sponsored by Australian National Consultative Committee on Electronic Health, Thales Australia [8] and the Australian Centre for Health Research [9]. A report of the proceedings and recommendations will be published shortly.