: Print Karen Dearne | June 17, 2009 QUEENSLAND has dug deep to add $270 million to its Health IT spending in this year's budget, while South Australia has performed a surprise U-turn, ripping $42 million from its planned e-health infrastructure program over the next four years.
In the SA Budget, only $8.3 million has been committed to new health ICT projects in 2009-10, down from $12 million in 2008-09, although a further $8 million has been allocated to continue work on a new clinical nursing and midwifery system.
"Savings initiatives" have rubbed out planned expenditure of $9.2 million next year, and $10.9 million, $11.3 million and $10.6 million in the years to 2012-13.
SA Health portfolio details show the foundation IT program has been stripped to just $890,000 next year, from $7 million this year.
No money has been allocated for "minor" technology projects, compared with $890,000 last year; there is also no money for a SA ambulance IT project, compared with $410,000 last year.
SA Treasurer Kevin Foley blamed the tight financial circumstances for the tough budget. For the first time, the Health budget would exceed $4 billion, he said, with most new funds going into hospitals and primary healthcare.
In Queensland, Health Minister Paul Lucas presided over a $9 billion budget including a "record $6 billion capital works program".
More than $87 million has been earmarked for e-health clinical systems intended to contribute to the state's e-health strategy; a further $86 million will be spent on upgrading and providing future capacity to support the e-health program, and $84 million will fund new health technologies and equipment.
Mr Lucas said the money would be spent on "a series of interlinked projects" that would eventually deliver an electronic medical record for Queenslanders, and support a "patient-centric, networked model of care delivery" across the state.
"Highlights include the ongoing rollout of a radiology information system that is reducing the time taken to view and diagnose medical problems, and new digital technology for breast screening," he said.
"We are also continuing the implementation of an enterprise discharge summary that provides a more accurate care record to consumers, and improves communication with GPs."
Queensland Health will also spend $11 million on upgrades to its Forensic and Scientific Services Laboratory infrastructure and IT systems.
NSW also took a low-profile approach to e-health initiatives in its latest Budget; only $63 million will go to IT projects, out of a total $15 billion spend on health.
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