Privacy and the Use of Health Data - Reducing Disclosure Risk

Abstract

In this paper we provide a review of some technological approaches to the problem of enabling the use of health data for research and policy analysis while protecting privacy and confidentiality. We take a statistical viewpoint, and assume that such approaches are implemented in an appropriate governance structure and secure environment. We give five examples of current implementations of such approaches in Australia and one in Canada, and indicate one emerging technology. We note that none of the technologies discussed here is the only solution to the problem, since there are many different scenarios for the use of health data, each with a different set of requirements. It is clear that different technologies and approaches have different strengths and weaknesses, and so are suitable for different scenarios.