VICTORIA – As many as 1,600 British Columbia residents are being warned that their privacy has been breached through unauthorized access of the PharmaNet system.

The Health Ministry says an audit of the prescription dispensing information system found that between March 9 and June 19 an unknown, unauthorized person used a doctor's PharmaNet account without that person's knowledge.

The ministry says the breach involved names, birth dates, addresses, phone numbers and personal health numbers.

While the breach didn't include banking information, the ministry says enough information was accessed to be used for identity theft and it's encouraging people to keep a close eye on their bank accounts, credit card statements and other financial services.

People who have been affected are being contacted by letter, which will explain the situation, tell them who to contact with concerns and provide information about free credit protection services.

The ministry and the B.C. government's Office of the Chief Information Officer are investigating the breach.