A privacy paper from the UK tells only part the story of ‘context specific authentication’ and leaves at least two questions unanswered.

The model I propose draws on the concept of an electronic service broker as the foundation for an integrated approach to the management of personal health data and information.

SPECIAL EVENT: Monday, 24 - Friday, 28 November 2008

The Hon. Tony Abbott MHR, Federal Shadow Minister for Shadow Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, is our guest blogger in an interactive discussion forum on the potential benefits of e-Health practices for Australia's remote Indigenous communities.

Amongst many sectors of Australia's healthcare system, the failure to embrace new e-Health methods can be largely attributed to an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality.

Where the system is working, that's hard to argue with. However, where the system is broken, looks like a smart place for government investment in e-Health infrastructure.

It's a national disgrace that Indigenous Australians have double the infant mortality rates, and a 17 year gap in life expectancy from the rest of the population. These figures are key indicators of widespread inequalities in health standards that reduce quality of life, such as higher incidences of diabetes, renal failure, cataracts and hearing loss. The statistics are even worse for Northern Territorians.