Electronic file, in addition to electronic prescription

In addition to electronic prescription and electronic health card, Romanians will get another digital element in the future, the electronic file.

It is considered the most ambitious computer project intended to further improve the social health insurance system.

The digital file will contain relevant information about the patient's medical history, including diagnoses or surgeries.

The project was recently released by the National Health Insurance and is likely to be operational in the first half of next year.

The electronic file means input normality, being beneficial both for the patient and the doctor, said Dalida Musorescu, physician trainer.

"I worked in an American clinic, within NATO military command. I did not have any paper files, everything was electronic. Of course, these data were digitally protected. If you are registered to me and you come to consultation, I have to do so: to tape the electronic recipe on the computer, to write in the register of consultations, where you sign, to write in your record.

"If you are a chronically patient, I also write in the chronic patients register. If you are pregnant, also in the pregnancy registry, I ask you when we do all these things and when you have time for consultation," said Dalida Musorescu.

Electronic file "should be carefully secured"

On the other hand, patients' representatives recognize the usefulness of this project, but fear of breaches of confidentiality of personal data in the system.

Cezar Irimia, the president of the chronic patients in Romania, said that electronic file must be carefully secured.

"We are not against electronic file, but it must be well secured, just as the banking system, though.

"It's about personal data and therefore we doubt regarding privacy, because we all know that was just implemented this CUI, which today, after many years, still has problems sometimes. Therefore, we cannot be sure that the electronic patient record will be well secured, "said Cezar Irimia.

In almost all EU countries, the health of citizens is monitored and digitized during their lifetime.

Basically, it is possible that next year, with one click, the doctor can see the patient's entire medical history.

Translated by Alexandra-Diana Mircea

MTTLC, Bucharest University