Laptop with personal health information of 620,000 Albertans stolen

EDMONTON – Alberta’s health minister is calling for an investigation after the theft of a laptop containing the personal health information of 620,000 people.

Fred Horne says he was informed Tuesday by Medicentres Family Health Care Clinics that the laptop contained names, dates of birth, provincial health card numbers, billing codes and diagnostic codes.

He says the theft last September was reported to Edmonton police and the province’s privacy commissioner.

Horne says he wants the commissioner to officially investigate to find out what happened, why health authorities weren’t told right away and what privacy breaches may have occurred.

He says he has also contacted the College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Alberta Medical Association so that they can take any steps they deem necessary.

The health minister says he is — quote — “extremely disappointed” — that it has taken this long for the theft to be brought to the government’s attention.