Hira, the national health information platform by the New Zealand Ministry of Health, is targeted to be publicly launched by the middle of next year. 

In a public webinar on Friday, Darren Douglass, the ministry's general manager for digital strategy and investment, data, and digital, shared a tentative timeline of the release of the platform. 

WHAT IT'S ABOUT

The first release in May next year aims to provide access to basic patient information stored in the National Health Index and from health providers. This also includes COVID-19 immunisation and test results, leveraging My Health Account. Solutions providers that cater to vulnerable communities, such as small non-profit organisations, are targeted to be its first users.

The second release in June will make available the ability to update user's contact details through the platform, as well as the ability to update affiliation details, especially for the Maori community. Contract tracing services will also be introduced in this phase. 

Hira will be publicly launched in its August release. Access to an international patient summary record is also part of this phase. 

Douglass emphasised that in its first three releases, Hira will provide New Zealand consumers with "easier" access to health services wherever they are. They will no longer waste time repeating information while accessing health services. 

THE LARGER CONTEXT

The piecemeal release of Hira is made possible by the first tranche of funding for the programme. The government has set aside NZ$385 million ($279 million) to implement the platform as part of the health sector data and digital infrastructure funding for over four years under Budget 2021. The first tranche, Douglass mentioned, starts with "establishing some key foundations and delivering initial Hira services, putting in place the capability and the elements needed to really underpin that digitally-enabled health system".

In the second round of funding, the Ministry is looking to extend the range of health data to make available for both consumers and health providers, as well as connect more providers and other stakeholders into the Hira ecosystem. In the final tranche, they will grow out data and digital services; for instance, providing access to social service data or access to Hira services to other government agencies.