Doctor data private – IMS
April 22, 2013
PHARMACEUTICAL data
specialist IMS says it’s “regretful”
for confusion which may have been
caused by a letter it sent to GPs
about prescribing data collection
from pharmacy dispensaries.
Controversy erupted last week
over the letter (PD Thu) which
advised doctors about a new data
collection program and invited
them to opt out from the scheme.
The Royal Australian College of
General Practitioners said it was
seeking advice on the legality
of sharing data, after the initial
letter told doctors that IMS “has
contractual arrangements in place
with pharmacies for the transfer to
IMS from the pharmacies of certain
information, including potentially
data about you”.
This information could include
doctors’ names, phone numbers,
prescribing details and more, the
controversial letter said.
In a statement issued on Fri,
IMS Health “emphatically states
there is no provision of personal
information including contact
details of medical practitioners to
third parties/clients of IMS and
nor can prescribing patterns be
attributed to individual doctors”.
“We recognise some of the
content [of the letter] in explaining
the provision of legitimate
information was open to
misinterpretation,” the firm said.
A new letter is being sent out,
explaining that personal details are
not forward on to third parties/
clients of IMS, and all information
pertaining to prescribing data
provided to third parties, collected
from various sources, is deidentified.
“In addition, the letter will
highlight that patient anonymity is
maintained throughout the process
ensuring patient de-identification,”
the company added.
IMS stressed its compliance with
regulatory requirements and the
Privacy Act, saying that the practice
of data collection and use in health
has been in place for decades.
“IMS is just one of many
companies that use healthcare
information to deliver critical,
real-world disease and treatment
insights and this information is
collected from a number of sources
in Australia,” the statement said.
“IMS also has a legal responsibility
to inform healthcare professionals
about these practices and provide
them with an opportunity to
decline to participate,” it added.
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