E-citizen Cards: Doctors: Data Open To Abuse

E-CITIZEN CARDS: Doctors: Data open to abuse

Experts see dangers if genetic info coded in smart cards

BANGKOK: Doctors yesterday warned of the potential dark side of the government’s programme to put healthrelated information on electronic citizen cards.

The doctors said if a card contains only general information such as blood group and allergies, that would be fine, but they are afraid that cards might include a person’s genetic information. With advances in biotechnology and knowledge of the human genome, modern medicine is capable of easily identifying people using DNA.

They said the information could be used against a patient. For that reason, Dr Somsak Chunharasmi, secretarygeneral of the National Health Foundation, and Dr Duangruadee Wattanasirichaikul, of Ramathibodi Hospital, demanded that the government survey public opinion before implementing the “smart card” project.

“Without proper security and strict access to the information, the information might be used to discriminate against people,” said Somsak, who is also a member of the National Bioethical Committee.

For example, he said, if an insurance company knows that a customer has a high risk of developing cancer, the insurer might charge them a higher premium than other patients.

The doctors called on the government to clarify which information would be included on the smart cards. They want to know the level of information, how deep it is, and who would decide what data is put on the card.

“Are there any rights for those who have HIV/Aids not to allow the information about their health condition to be shown on the card? If not, what would be happen to them if the information is leaked to the public?” said Duangraudee.

The ecitizen card is a collaborative project between the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology and the Interior Ministry’s Department of Provincial Administration. Basic information, including civil registration information, health and medical condition, and taxrelated information would be put on a microchip in each ecitizen card. The government reasons that the one card will carry information normally kept by many agencies.

Under the government’s plan, the smart card could be issued nationwide starting July 1. In a test run, the first 10,000 cards will be issued for state officials next month.

--The Nation 2004-03-10