The Baird government would commit $300 million towards e-health initiatives over the next four years if re-elected, NSW health minister Jillian Skinner pledged today.
The state government is making the last of its pre-election promises as NSW citizens prepare to head to the polls for the 2015 state election on Saturday.
Baird has already promised to put $100 million towards technology for the state police force and shift the state to digital drivers licenses should he be re-elected.
The state Liberal government today pledged to invest the $300 million for e-health in initiatives including upgrading the state's electronic medical records system with voice recognition.
The money would also go towards the rollout of an electronic medications management system, Skinner said.
She said a trial of the system at Concord Hospital had resulted in a 66 percent reduction in prescribing errors, and a 44 percent drop n in serious prescribing errors.
The $300 million funding pot would include $48 million to expand e-health in rural areas, and $4 million to expand the state's 1000 telehealth sites by 100.
A further $4.9 million would go towards a wider rollout of of the state's award-winning HealtheNet platform to 11 more sites.
The government also said it would develop a new strategic plan for e-health - covering IT investment and programs to 2021 - should it be re-elected.
