Updated July 23, 2018 14:21:52

Photo: Tim Wilson would prefer if My Health Record was a voluntary system. (ABC News: Nick Haggarty)

The controversial My Health Record system has been dealt another blow, with a Federal Liberal MP abandoning his Government's own scheme.

My Health Record is a digital database containing the medical records of every Australian who does not opt out by mid-October.

Labor is urging the Government to extend the opt-out period beyond three months.

Melbourne-based Liberal MP Tim Wilson has revealed he withdrew from the scheme within days of the opt-out period opening last week.

"People should be able to be free to choose to opt-in to a system," Mr Wilson told Sky News.

"My instinctive position should always be, as a liberal, that systems should be opt-in."

Despite attacking the system's design, Mr Wilson said it could deliver benefits "in terms of efficiency and access to your medical records".

Privacy advocates have urged Australians to avoid the system, amid warnings the database is a tempting target for hackers.

About 20,000 people opted out last Monday when the withdrawal period began.

Health Minister Greg Hunt has previously said "any individual" could opt out if they had concerns.

"They don't have to be part of the system, nobody has to be part of it," Mr Hunt said.

"But everyone should have the right to their own records."

Shadow Health Minister Catherine King has called for an extension of the opt-out window.

"The Government has failed to effectively communicate with the public about what the My Health Record is and the potential benefits it could bring," Ms King said.

"It has also failed to explain to people how their rights will be respected and their privacy protected."

The Opposition has called for a new advertising campaign to inform the public about the scheme.

The government agency responsible for the My Health Record program said opt-out system had been broadly supported by clinical and consumer peak bodies as well as the Federal Opposition.

Topics: government-and-politics, federal-government, health, australia

First posted July 23, 2018 13:56:55