Policies and Future Direction about the Provision and Use of Health Checkup Data to Third Parties at Health Checkup Institutions

Abstract

　【Purpose】 We conducted a nationwide survey of institutions on the provision and use of health checkup data to third parties, before the ‘Next Generation Medical Infrastructure Act’ came into effect in May 2018.【Method】 We selected 298 institutions based on the number of institutions per prefecture and sent a mail survey from July 18 to August 31, 2016.【Results】 There were responses from 79 institutions, of which 46 institutions make secondary use of the personal information. Sixty-three institutions would provide health checkup data to third parties if those were satisfied with the requirements. Those requirements include the validity of the purpose of providing the data, anonymization of the data, and how the information is managed by the third party institution. On the other hand, the policies of the health institutions holding the health data were not so affected even if provided data were processed with highly safe anonymization technology.【Discussion】 The results of this survey suggest the necessity of two improvements in process of health data provision to the outside. One is the manner of the third party institutions. Those must clearly explain the reason why they need the health checkup data and the purposes of the usage of the data and the information management system. Another is to establish anonymization technology that adheres to the guidelines stipulated in the Next Generation Medical Infrastructure Act.