The health authorities envisage a new, easier way for citizens to access their electronic health record. Currently, access is only through a qualified electronic signature (QES) and there is a statutory entry option to serve as well as electronic identification, which is about to happen with the new identity documents. According to the Ministry of Health now less than 10% of citizens in the country have KEP certificates.
Therefore, the department offers easier access to the electronic health file. This will be possible in several ways personally or through the cooperation of the health authorities and some private doctors, foresees a draft change in the Ordinance on the functioning of the National Health Information System (NHIS) of the Ministry of Health, published for public discussion. “The current proposals create an opportunity virtually every citizen who owns a smartphone or tablet to have mobile access to their electronic health record by activating a special user mobile application “eHealth” to access your electronic health record and one-time pairing of the file with the mobile application on your mobile device”stated by the Ministry of Health in the reasons for the regulation.
Pairing can be done in one of the following ways:
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personally by a person;
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through authorized employees in the relevant regional health inspection (RHI) or regional health insurance fund (RHIF) at his permanent or current address,
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in the offices of “Information Service” AD,
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if technically possible and through the personal physician.
Pairing is done via download a QR code that is scanned on the person’s mobile device through which they access their electronic health record. Pairing through an authorized official at RZI, RZOK, “Information Service” and at the personal physician is provided on the spot and free of charge.
“With the code, a person initially accesses his electronic health file, which automatically gives him the opportunity for multiple subsequent mobile access according to the general rules for using the mobile application in accordance with the accepted and published rules and policies. It is not necessary to perform subsequent technical procedures to maintain access. The proposed access system does not require special technical knowledge for citizens either, nor for those performing the pairing, since in practice it does not differ from the usual technical solutions in mass-used applications, incl. at household level”the department explains.
It is envisaged that general practitioners, responsible officials in the regional health inspectorates and responsible officials in the regional health insurance funds will receive technical assistance for the implementation of the regulation by providing them with access to video tutorials, and in case of questions and difficulties, it will be available 24/7 call center.
Facilitating access to the electronic health record is a long-awaited and delayed step that will greatly increase citizen control over the health care system. So we will be notified in a timely manner of examinations, tests, hospitalizations, prescribed and received drugs in our name and we will be able to report to the health authorities if we have not actually received these medical services. This will greatly curb malpractices such as bogus hospitalizations and examinations, prescriptions, dental procedures and other medical services.
At the end of last year, the authorities first envisaged that the pairing of our file with the mobile application would be carried out only by GPs, but this option was not accepted during the negotiations with the Medical Union for the annex to the National Framework Agreement. This is how it was decided that more institutions should be involved in the process.
“The requirements for KEP or electronic identification limit the ability of the vast majority of citizens to access their electronic health records. These requirements also apply when accessing the file through the eHealth mobile application (mobile access). Currently, less than 10% of citizens in the country have KEP certificates. This limits the possibilities of access to the electronic health file to only a small part of the population, which in turn limits the rights of the majority of citizens.
Apart from the potential limitation of their rights, the deprivation of access does not give citizens the opportunity to control the nature and volume of medical activities performed that affect them personally. If it is impossible to track and access the data on the medical services provided to them and the medical documents issued, citizens are placed in a passive position and unable to effectively protect their rights as patients. On the other hand, citizens’ control over this information is the most effective means of controlling the spending of public funds.”indicate in the reasons for the ordinance of the Ministry of Health.
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