Your health, all in one digital location. Photo: NGCM

Pharmaceutical companies will be allowed to apply to access data from the controversial My Health Record system, a Senate committee hearing has been told.

BACKGROUND

The My Health Record is a digital health record for Australians where personal health information can be viewed online, from anywhere, at any time – even if you move or travel interstate.

Individuals will be able access their health information from any computer or device that’s connected to the internet, and can allow others to access the record, such as doctors and hospitals.

Initially known as the failed E-Health system, the Abbott government introduced the new program as an ‘opt-in’ system for two years in 2015, causing controversy in the initial phases of the program.

In 2017, the government would announce that 17 million Australians will now have the digital health record created for…