Just 29 percent of health care providers share electronic information securely beyond their practices
The federal government has introduced Bill S-5, the Connected Care for Canadians Act, to boost the healthcare system by facilitating digital interconnectedness among health care providers.
The new legislation requires information technology companies offering digital health services in Canada to follow common standards for the protected and secure exchange of information across systems. The federal government confirmed that it was working with provinces and territories to develop regulations that facilitate this exchange while complying with privacy legislation.
“This legislation is a critical step towards a more connected health care system that supports all Canadians. The Connected Care for Canadians Act is about empowering Canadians to securely access their own health data, so patients and those involved in their care have the information they need to make the right decisions at the right time,” said Marjorie Michel, Canada’s health minister, in a statement.
The government had found that just 29 percent of health care providers in Canada exchanged electronic information easily and securely beyond their offices. Some providers still used fax machines, and Canadians needed to have hard copies of their health information on hand.
“By supporting modern digital standards and trusted data sharing, the legislation helps ensure patients can access their health information, providers can coordinate care more effectively, and the health system can respond more efficiently to growing demands,” said Michael Green, Canada Health Infoway’s president and CEO, in a statement.
The law has met with support from the Canadian Medical Association, Canadian Nurses Association, the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions, the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada, and the College of Family Physicians of Canada.
“Establishing clear, connected, and privacy-protecting rules for data use puts patients first so they can achieve the best possible outcomes and quality of life. At the same time, it helps build a national data foundation that enables research, innovation and AI at scale,” said Anderson Chuck, the Canadian Institute for Health Information’s president and CEO. “This drives the system efficiencies health systems need while strengthening Canada's sovereignty by creating economic opportunities for Canadian companies that reduce our reliance on foreign actors. That is direct value for patients, health systems, and Canadians.”
The government said the Act enabled but would not compel secure patient access and information sharing among health care providers. The law would only apply to provinces and territories that have not already implemented similar legislation.
