Microsoft Healthvault could get British government deal
British newspaper reports say the party which is favorite to form the next government is considering plans to outsource public medical records to services such as Microsoft’s HealthVault. But the politicians concerned say a review is ongoing and the story is purely speculation.
Both the Times and Telegraph newspapers say the Conservative party – which polls suggest will win the national election due within the next year – is looking at alternative ways to handle patient records under the state-funded National Health Service.
An existing plan to computerize records through a government agency is reportedly “years behind schedule” and more than $20 billion over budget. The reports say Conservative officials are looking at both Microsoft’s HealthVault and Google’s Health as possible alternatives.
However, Google appears to have ruled itself out of such a scheme, with the BBC reporting the firm believes its system is incompatible with Britain’s health system where care is provided by local trusts which report to the government, rather than independent medical groups.
Microsoft has reportedly said it is in talks with the current British government to launch a local version of HealthVault, but those talks involve it being an add-on to, rather than a replacement for, the official system.
The company already has some involvement in the ongoing government plan to electronically link doctors and hospitals across the country, allowing for online booking of appointments and electronic prescriptions. That system won’t be in full operation for at least five years.
The issue of online medical records is likely to raise political and ethical debates as much as technological arguments. Reports suggest the Conservatives believe private firms are better qualified to manage such huge technical projects. But it may be tough to convince critics that the likes of Microsoft can be relied upon to ensure patient confidentiality, or that they won’t simply treat it as a profit-making exercise.
A spokesman for the Conservative party said today there was an independent review due to report back in a few weeks, so today’s stories are simply speculation.
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