The Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) intends to publish a draft plan for interoperability standards for healthcare providers by the end of this financial year, which CEO Tim Kelsey described as a 'licence to operate' that organisations in both the public and private sectors will need to adopt.

ADHA released the long-awaited national digital health strategy last Friday following its endorsement by the COAG Health Council. The strategy involves seven priorities, one of which is the development of a set of agreed standards for interoperability and a roadmap for implementation that will see regions showcasing comprehensive interoperability across health service provision by 2022.