A Roxon E-Communications Rebuff

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Peter Sayers is vitally concerned about pharmacy professional practice - its innovation, its research and development, and its delivery to create an ongoing revenue stream. Delivery of healthcare is increasingly involved with Information Technology systems. All perspectives in IT must be considered for the impact on pharmacy practice and its viability.

Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon has ignored calls from the telecommunications industry to integrate hospitals and healthcare networks into the National Broadband Network (NBN). The industry's leading experts say government could lose millions unless disparate and costly fibre network contracts are integrated into the $43 billion NBN. Roxon refused to attend a recent meeting with the Digital Economy Industry Workgroup, which includes experts from telecommunications, health and energy sectors, to discuss network exit plans for hospitals and other health agencies.

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The workgroup, setup earlier this year, argues millions could be saved by allowing agencies to scrap existing network contracts and standardise on NBN services.

Roxon's past performance in regard to e-health issues has been of concern in that she does not appear to be across the importance of health IT.
However Roxon must address the NBN issue within her department to ensure agencies are ready to move to the NBN as it is phased in.
Yet Roxon has declined all invitations to discuss the issue.
This is not really a good enough performance and e-health savings continue to elude all stakeholders through this indecision.