Danish minister advocates extension of EPJ (electronic patient journal):

Arne Rolighed, the Danish minister of health, has defended himself against claims that his department overextended itself when it promised a speedy expansion of the electronic patient journal (EPJ). The minister, who denies having ever made such a promise, says that plans will, however, be discussed at a meeting next month during which budgets will be drawn up for the various state departments for 2002. "My aim is to convert 40-50% of patients' journals into an electronic format by 2003," he said. The minister is buoyed by results from the municipal districts of Viborg, where four out of 10 journals are now electronic, and Velje, where a quarter have been converted to this format.