Protect personal health info with security measures: privacy commissioner

VICTORIA – B.C.’s privacy commissioner has made 11 recommendations to improve the Health Ministry’s privacy practices after the personal information of five million people was breached for drug research purposes.

Elizabeth Denham conducted an investigation after Health Ministry employees provided confidential information on unencrypted flash drives to two universities.

Denham says in her report that the ministry must develop a policy on the use of other, more secure, forms to transfer information and that while the public supports research people expect their data to be handled securely.

She says the government should also ensure employees have access to only the minimum amount of personal information and implement security measures to prevent its unauthorized transfer from databases.

Five government employees were fired last year in connection with $4 million worth of contracts between university researchers and the ministry, which helps decide which drugs are covered by B.C.’s Pharmacare program.

Health Minister Terry Lake says his ministry has accepted Denham’s report and will implement all the recommendations to safeguard B.C. residents’ personal information.