Shared Digital Health Record now to launch mid-2026

NEWS - eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth 

The national Shared Digital Health Record (SDHR) service will now go live in mid-2026, following an early adopter pilot planned for late 2025.

The service was originally due to go live in June of this year but this was pushed back until December 2025 to give more time for engagement with primary care providers and patients.

The latest update from Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora says the new proposed timeline is for a national launch in mid-2026 with an early adopter pilot in late 2025 and practice information sharing to start in early-mid 2026. 

The update describes SDHR as a “clinical data connector (data service) that will expand the the coverage of data to regionally based Shared Electronic Health Records like HealthOne and Your Health Summary.

“Think of Shared Digital Health Record as a clinical data connector, or the plumbing, that will allow patients’ health information to flow to the point of care, such as visiting another healthcare provider that is not their usual GP,” it says. 

Health NZ says feedback from recent focus groups with GPs and patient interviews showed support for the service, with many patients “surprised that their health information is not already available nationwide”.

Feedback focused on the need for clear, simple messaging, greater explanation of technical terminology, and rigorous privacy safeguards. 

“Privacy is a key concern and there must be rigorous controls in place to protect sensitive information and who can access it,” the update says.

“Your PMS remains the source of truth for your patients’ data. Your workflow and the systems you use remains the same.”

The early adopter pilot will start in late 2025, where selected practices will test information-sharing processes. From early to mid-2026, practices nationwide, who choose to participate, will be supported to contribute data, ahead of the full national rollout.

Once launched next year, healthcare providers, such as general practice, telehealth, urgent and emergency care, will be able to use their existing Shared Electronic Health Records or clinical portal to access core patient information nationwide, the update says.

GenPro chief executive Mark Liddle says his impression is that the view of GPs on the SDHR is mixed, with South Island GPs generally more open to it because of their long-term use of the HealthOne shared record.

He says concerns remain around privacy, data use and access, and many GPs may choose to wait and see rather than be early adopters.

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