In 2018, recognising the benefits of increased collaboration and the technical advancements in data security and privacy, Primary Health Networks (PHNs) initiated the Primary Heath Insights development project.
WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) was nominated as the lead agency to implement the program, including the design, platform build and transition to operations. A wide range of stakeholders were engaged in the design and development stages including the Australian Medical Association, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the Rural Doctors Association of Australia, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, Consumers Health Forum of Australia and others. All of these organisations expressed their support. The $10 million development and implementation phase of the project was funded by the Australian Government Department of Health.
The platform build was completed in mid-2020 and, following a pilot phase, PHNs were progressively onboarded. By April 2021 all participating PHNs were able to start using their secure areas to store data.
Primary Health Insights is a highly successful collaboration of the participating PHNs. As not for profit organisations, PHNs fund the operation of the platform on a cost recovery basis, as well as investing in further development initiatives. As Lead PHN, WAPHA remains the operator of the platform.
Primary Health Insights is, and will remain, solely owned by PHNs. The platform is governed by PHN representatives drawn from each jurisdiction of Australia.
In 2023 the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) became a Primary Health Insights participant. It is required to maintain the same data governance requirements as PHNs for the data held in its’ secure lock box. For further information about the AIHW’s participation see Purpose and FAQs.
Additional information about the role of PHNs can be found at Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
Details of the PHN Cooperative can be found here.
What is Primary Health Insights?