Liberal government tables bill that seeks to streamline, secure health data
Written by The Canadian Press on June 6, 2024
OTTAWA — The federal Liberals are moving to streamline and secure health data across jurisdictions with a new bill that imposes new rules on technology vendors.
Health Minister Mark Holland tabled the legislation in the House of Commons this morning.
The bill would require vendors to ensure that health information tech they license, sell or supply as a service is interoperable.
That means patients and health-care providers would be able to completely and securely access the data and exchange it with other systems — for example, those being used in another hospital or jurisdiction.
The bill is designed fill gaps in provinces and territories where similar provisions don’t already exist.
It would also prohibit data blocking, or any practice that would prevent, discourage or interfere with a user’s access to their own health data or their ability to transfer it to another system.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2024.
The Canadian Press