Protests force government climbdown on patient data collection

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The DHA admits better security is needed for clinical data collection.

Dubai Health Authority (DHA) has called a halt to a scheme requiring dentists to submit electronic clinical data following widespread concern about patient confidentiality.

Early last month, the Department of Health and Medical Services (DoHMS) transferred responsibility for health statistics collection to the DHA.

The Authority has now said it will suspend clinical data gathering, because it believes the necessary security protocols aren't in place, leaving the system is open to potential abuse.

The move comes after healthcare workers, including dentists, protested against a government law requiring them to submit personal and clinical data about patients electronically.

The scheme, which required clinics to provide photo identification of patients, breached basic rules of patient confidentiality, dentists said.

According to the DHA, a letter was sent out in early September from DoHMS informing dentists of the scheme's suspension.

"Clinical data collection has been stopped because our data protection protocols did not meet the required guidelines," said Dr Peyvand Khaleghian, the newly appointed head of head of strategy and innovation at the Authority, who called a halt to the scheme.

However, a straw poll of practices held by MED revealed none had as yet received, or could locate, the letter.

One practitioner, who asked not to be named, said: "I am glad to hear that something has finally been done about it, though we have had no official indication whatsoever from the authorities that we are to stop submitting the data.

"While I understand the need for accurate statistical data, it was not something I was comfortable doing in that manner. It went against all my instincts as a healthcare professional."

Another Jumeirah-based dentist who wished to remain anonymous raised concerns about existing data collected after the reporting system was launched in late July.

"Electronic data can be so easily compromised, like the guy from the NHS who left his laptop, with thousands of patient files, at a railway station," he said. "It is not that bad here, but this whole scheme seems to have been a little half-baked.

"There is a lot of sensitive data floating about DoHMS somewhere, not just from us but from physicians and hospitals."

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