Changes needed to health information act: Saskatchewan privacy commissioner

Saskatchewan’s privacy commissioner says the government needs to update its health legislation to better protect the privacy of patients.

Ronald Kruzeniski says the Health Information Protection Act allows trustees not to inform people when their privacy has been
breached.

He says trustees should be prepared to tell people when their health information has been disclosed without their consent.

He says the act should also specify how long personal health information should be retained.

The recommendations were included in Kruzeniski’s annual report.

The Health Information Protection Act has been in force since 2003 but has not undergone a formal legislative review.