Private doctors are pushing back against a proposed health digitization law, warning that new data, technology and reporting requirements could leave them with more paperwork, higher costs and legal risks.
The General Practitioners’ Union Coordination in the private sector says it does not oppose digitizing health care, but wants the government to reconsider parts of Bill 52.26 before the plan is implemented.
The bill would establish an integrated national health information system and require doctors to contribute to shared medical records, transfer patient data between systems, track and document information and comply with digital security rules.
Doctors say those requirements could place a heavy burden on private clinics, particularly those with limited financial and technical resources.
They are especially concerned about who would be held responsible when the system fails.
The doctors’ group is calling for the law to clearly define their legal responsibilities so they are not exposed to penalties for software failures, internet problems, maintenance issues or cybersecurity incidents beyond their control.
The group says it is unfair to impose heavy penalties without first involving doctors in decisions about how the system will work in practice and what resources clinics will need.
Clinics may have to invest in new software and computer equipment, pay for maintenance, stronger cybersecurity and reliable internet connections, while training employees to use the system.
The doctors want the government either to cover these costs or provide real financial support to help clinics make the transition.
They are demanding stronger protections for patients’ medical and personal data. Medical records contain highly sensitive information, and doctors say the system must include strict safeguards against leaks, misuse and poor data management.
Rather than making the system mandatory immediately, the group is proposing a gradual rollout.
It wants the government to first test the system in real clinics and evaluate how it works, with doctors taking part in the assessment. Only after that process, it says, should the system be expanded to all private practices.
The group is calling for the penalties to be reviewed so doctors are not punished disproportionately for technical problems involving connectivity, software, maintenance or digital security.
Doctors say they support digitization because it could make it easier to follow patients, improve continuity of treatment and help health professionals share information.
But they say that modernization cannot succeed through fines and administrative pressure alone.
They say their main role remains listening to patients, examining them, diagnosing illnesses, providing treatment and monitoring their progress.
If digital requirements continue to grow without proper support, they warn, clinics could gradually become an “extension of the administration,” taking time away from the patient care at the heart of their work.
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