The card uses a double password, layered security system including encrypted and encoded data, and can store up to 512 health records and that same number of prescription records.
The research is headed by Associate Professor Sajeev who says the card could revolutionise health care - the University is looking for a financial backer to take over the commercial development of the successful prototype.
The card, called MoReHealth (Mobile Records for better Health), is a miniature computer with memory and processor.
It stores the patient's medical history so that a doctor or hospital anywhere in the world has ready access to their records through a smart card reader and a desktop PC with MoReHealth software.
Professor Sajeev said the card could be integrated with a patient's Medicare card to store billing information as well.
He said researchers had been able to convince doctors who had seen the card that it had sufficient privacy protection.
Data would not be able to be edited without a password from both the doctor and the patient, or their guardian or carer, and would be stored on the card using a medical coding system, which would then be encrypted.
Doctors and pharmacists would require special software that would only be issued to bona fide practitioners, to translate the data on the card.
Pharmacists would only have access to the prescription details and not to the medical records, according to Professor Sajeev.
If the patient was treated by a doctor other than their family physician the card would be updated and an encrypted back-up copy would be sent to the family doctor via the Internet so no records would be lost if the card was stolen or mislaid.
-We want to talk to the government, the health industry and others with the idea of getting some backing and forming a consortium to commercialise the card," Professor Sajeev said.
Several years ago our local police sponsored a program where you could put all of your allergies and medications onto microfiche.It included your name, address, date of birth, blood type, next of kin, doctor details, medical fund, medicare number and medical disorders. It is called a medical data card. Issued by Microcard Australia Pty Ltd, GPO Box 3014, Brisbane, Queensland, 4001. As my card was issued some 10 years ago, some details are out of date. I have never seen anything similar since. As it is out of date I would like to know if anyone makes these cards now. It sits in my wallet with my license and donor card.