MedicineInsight for consumers

Prof Nigel Stocks, chair of the MedicineInsight Data Governance Committee, explains in simple terms what MedicineInsight is, what data is collected, how it is used and why consumers can feel confident in the security of their data.

MedicineInsight is a national health information program with funding provided by the Australian Government Department of Health. The program collects deidentified information from the medical records held by your doctor. This information is used to help your doctor provide the best and safest possible care. MedicineInsight data is an important resource for public health research in Australia. Contributing your deidentified health data for MedicineInsight research purposes is a public good that leads to improvements in health at a population level through use in approved research studies.

Find out more about approved MedicineInsight research studies

MedicineInsight provides your GP with the latest evidence and up-to-date information about clinical care. This means your GP can do their job more efficiently and give you the best and safest health care possible.

MedicineInsight is helping Australia’s health care system get the services and resources it needs, where it needs them, which means you stay healthier. 

MedicineInsight is used to improve the quality of health care you receive, for health research, and to inform health policy. Kendal Chidwick, a senior epidemiologist at NPS MedicineWise provides examples of how MedicineInsight is used for public good in the videos below:

Video 1. An Introduction: How MedicineInsight is used for public good

Video 2. Bushfires: How MedicineInsight is used for public good

Video 3. Chronic kidney disease: How MedicineInsight is used for public good

Video 4. Supporting mental health: How MedicineInsight is used for public good

MedicineInsight collects information about your medical history, health care and lifestyle. Your name, date of birth and address are not collected. This means no information is collected that can identify you. Although data is not linked to individuals, it may contain sensitive information, such as a patient’s postcode, whether they are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background, or whether they have specific conditions.

MedicineInsight can link to information from other sources to create new and clearer information, leading to better patient care. This process is known as data linkage 

Find out more information about data linkage for MedicineInsight.

NPS MedicineWise and health professionals respect that you may not choose to take part in MedicineInsight. If you do not want your practice to continue to share information from your medical record with MedicineInsight, you can opt out of the program at any time by filling out the opt out form, by following the link below or asking for a copy at your medical practice.

The MedicineInsight program cannot directly receive your opt-out form, as the program may only receive deidentified information. The signed opt-out form must be given to and kept at your medical practice and not shared with NPS MedicineWise.

Choosing not to take part in MedicineInsight will not affect the medical care that you receive in any way.

Download the MedicineInsight opt-out form.

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