title: Ethics and electronic health information technology: challenges for evidence-based medicine and the physician-patient relationship.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), and the National Identification Authority (NIA), pose ethical challenges to the physician-patient relationship due to interoperability. This paper explores (1) the national legislation on Electronic Health Information Technology (EHIT), (2) the ethics of information technology and public health and (3) the effect on the Physician-patient relationship.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study consisted of systematic literature and internet review of the legislation, information technology, the national health insurance program, and the physician-patient relationship.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The result shows that (1) EHIT have eroded a big part of the confidentiality between the physician and patient; (2) The encroachment on privacy is an inevitable outcome of EHIT; (3) Legislation on privacy, the collection, storage and uses of electronic health information is needed and; (4) the nexus between EHIT, NHIS, NHA, Ethics, the physician-patient relationship and privacy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study highlights the lack of protection for physician-patient relationship as medical practice transitions from the conventional to the modern, information technology driven domain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological, Environmental & Occupational Health Science, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, P. O. Box LG 13, Legon, Accra, Ghana. ishmael_norman@yahoo.com
authors.forename: I D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Aikins
authors.forename: F N
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Binka
mesh_terms: D003219:Confidentiality / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D057286:Electronic Health Records / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000941:ethics; D017144:Focus Groups; D005869:Ghana; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008490:Medical Informatics / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations / Q000941:ethics*