The Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Act was enacted in 2013 to ensure that personal data remains protected and private. As a result, the POPI Act plays a major role in telehealth, which is the process of undergoing medical visits and exams remotely using a mobile device.
Telemedicine is highly convenient and ensures people can access quality care, no matter where they live in South Africa. However, it’s natural to have concerns about privacy in this case, especially when it comes to medical information. This guide provides insight into the POPI Act and how it applies to remote healthcare visits.
The goal of the POPI Act is to establish a standard when it comes to the handling of personal information. Accordingly, the act governs the collection, organization, distribution, and retrieval of personal data. Personal information includes details like your full name, identity number, phone number, financial data, and other pertinent information.
The POPI Act includes eight essential principles, which are:
In addition to the personal information listed above, the POPI Act also applies to a person’s medical history. Accordingly, telehealth providers must adhere to the above eight principles, much like other businesses in South Africa.
Information collected for the purposes of providing diagnosis and treatment must be safeguarded. It must also be processed correctly to ensure sensitive data isn’t shared with unauthorized individuals. Telehealth providers take the POPI Act very seriously, as breaches can result in major legal issues for a business.
Fortunately, there are many reputable telemedicine apps that are fully POPI-compliant while also providing essential medical care to patients.