Ontario To Introduce Enhanced Privacy Legislation For Healthcare Data

The Government of Ontario announced on June 10 that it intends to introduce amendments to the province's Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) that, if passed, would strengthen privacy rules in respect of health records, make it easier to prosecute offences, and increase fines for privacy breaches.

Speaking at a press conference at Queen's Park, Health Minister Dr. Eric Hoskins said the proposed changes would also include mandatory reporting of all health-related privacy breaches to Ontario's Information and Privacy Commissioner.

The amendments would include:

• Clarifying the authority under which healthcare providers may collect, use and disclose personal health information in electronic health records;