Only one in two GPs using My Health Record think its clinical value justifies the time and effort involved in maintaining the system, the government’s own internal research has found.

Documents released under freedom of information laws suggest the Australian Digital Health Agency was aware it had a serious perception issue among its GP users in the months before the system went opt-out last year.

The agency commissioned two surveys of GPs, non-GP specialists, pharmacists and nurses in April and then again in August last year.

GPs — whose role in uploading and curating shared health summaries is seen as central to the system — were the least likely to recommend My Health Record to colleagues or request it for their own care.