MPs and family doctors have accused health minister Ab Klink of causing unnecessary confusion by informing patients about the planned shift to electronic medial records two years ahead of schedule.

The government plans to introduce a central electronic storage system for records so that doctors as well as hospital and pharmacy staff can all access and exchange health records. Klink hopes this will result in the better use of medicines.
While MPs support the new system, legislation making it possible has not yet gone through parliament. ‘This is bizarre. Klink should wait until we have voted on the bill,’ one MP told the Telegraaf.
The letter also includes a form which people can fill in if they object to their details being stored in the central system. The deadline for objections is December 15.
‘By telling people now about something that will not be ready for two years, the minister is only creating unease,’ said Steven van Eijck, chairman of the family doctors’ association.
Tests with the system also show privacy issues have not yet been resolved, Van Eijck said.