B.C. watchdog says better health privacy laws needed as technology improves

VICTORIA – B.C.’s privacy watchdog says the province needs to enact a new health information privacy law to keep up with the pace of changing technology and cutting-edge research.

The recommendation is one of 21 made by information and privacy commissioner Elizabeth Denham in a report that outlines dramatic changes coming in health care.

Denham says digital health, genome sequencing and big-data linkages present new opportunities for innovation, but also new risks for the protection of personal health information.

While other jurisdictions in Canada have stand-alone health information legislation, Denham says B.C. has a patchwork of laws and the rules can be difficult to follow.

Her report says the government needs to take a holistic approach to the collection, use, disclosure and protection of personal health information and patient data by introducing a comprehensive health privacy law with independent oversight.

Denham says the province has the opportunity to be a leader in embracing new technologies to improve health outcomes for patients and promote leading research.