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Wellington GP and e-health advocate, Dr Peter Moodie

Photo RNZ: Wellington GP and e-Health advocate, Dr Peter Moodie

There's a huge online revolution underway in health, with big potential benefits for the public.

E-health, through so-called patient portals, will provide online access to personal health information, similar to online banking.

The system enables patients to renew prescriptions, receive lab-test results online, book appointments and possibly even see a doctor's comments written following consultations.

It's a top priority for the Government to give New Zealanders online access to their personal health information by year end.

A major aim of the change is to empower patients to manage their own health better, especially those with long-term conditions. It's also the biggest change for family doctors' practices in decades.

karen brownRadio New Zealand's Health Correspondent, Karen Brown, considers all the implications.

Example of medication chart that might be available to patients online after discharge from hospital.

Example of medication chart that might be available to patients online after discharge from hospital.