James Breen (Clare, Independent)
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Question 205: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if a nationwide campaign will be launched to encourage people to carry a health curriculum vitae on their person at all times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7787/05]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I have no plans to develop a campaign of this nature in 2005. However, a key element of the report, Health Information — A National Strategy, which was published in 2004, is the development of the electronic health care record. This will provide appropriate secure access by clinicians to patient records at the point of care. It is anticipated that access to the electronic health care record will be underpinned by a patient held card. While this card may contain limited clinical information, such as emergency information, chronic conditions or allergies, it is expected to act as a key to the record rather than hold the patient's details. The exact structure and format of the electronic health care record and any associated card will be determined at the detailed design stage and will take into account European and other international trends and developments in this area.

The Deputy may also wish to note that in phase II of the development of the European health insurance card, discussions at EU level will explore the possibility of enabling this card to hold electronic data, such as personal health data. The card, which was introduced on 1 June 2004 and replaced the E111 and certain other forms, provides evidence of an individual's entitlement to necessary health care while on a temporary stay in another state of the EU, the EEA or in Switzerland and currently carries eye readable data only.