The NHI continues to develop the methods for collecting and storing the massive medical records of all the insured, from paper records to IC cards and to the NHI APP. The insured can now easily access their records of hospital visits, medications, treatments, and more. This massive databank has immense potential for improving public welfare.
Prof. Tang Chao-Hsiun of Taipei Medical University pointed out that the continuous evolution of the NHI database also contributes to the formation of many public health decisions. The NHI health data has become an important asset of the big data industry. This has caused a serious debate on the property rights of personal health information. The legal battle over the use of the NHI data ended up in the Constitutional Court, where the Grand Justice declared such a use unconstitutional. This ruling sparked further discussions among the industry, the authority and the patients.
90.5% of the public supports the academic use of NHI data
To address the issues concerning the secondary use of the NHI data and the protection of privacy, the government is considering giving the public the right to opt-out from such undertakings. Dr Lee Po-Chang, the Director General of the NHIA, expressed that 90.5% of the public supports the academic use of NHI data. Dr Lee stressed that the composition of the NHI data includes not only patients’ health records but also the use of NHI resources and costs. Over 8100 academic papers based on NHI data have already been published worldwide. This is part of the reason why Taiwan continues to lead the world in healthcare.
Patient’s right is a major issue
Lin Wei-Jei, the founder of a patient group, explained that the discussion on health data mainly focuses on how it can be used in the public interest, with little discussion on the data subjects’ autonomy. Therefore, the Taiwan Association of Cancer Patients organized a forum on the rights of data subjects. Stakeholders were invited to present their positions to the leaders of patient groups.
Big data is now widely used in clinical research and treatment; and it has even prompted the development of various AI tools. This development has a beneficial effect on Taiwan’s emerging smart health industry. Thanks to the launch of the NHI APP, the public can now manage their health records and authorize the secondary use of their health data. The APP has created a precedent for the data subjects’ autonomy.
Through the block-chain technology, health data can now be managed by the data subjects who can also authorize its use to improve health and welfare.
Prof Tang expressed that the COVID 19 pandemic has triggered an irreversible digital reform in healthcare. Health data is now a global topic. The role of government is shifting from monopolizing health data, to sharing the data, and further to establishing ethical standards and codes of conduct. Going forward, the real challenge will lie in the rights and the roles of data subjects.
【2022-10-26 / Top 1 Health】
