CALGARY – A local pharmacist who used a woman’s health information to try to become friends with her has been found in contravention of the Health Information Act (HIA).
The woman said the pharmacist had contacted her twice by phone and had tried to contact her on Facebook.
She said she was concerned that he had been able to get in touch with her from the contact information she supplied when she filled a prescription at the pharmacy.
The pharmacist was employed by Amani Pharmacy, located within a southeast Calgary Shoppers Drug Mart. He had access to health information for work purposes.
The HIA prohibits employees from using health information for purposes not in accordance with their job responsibilities.
It also holds a pharmacy responsible for the misuse of health information by its staff.
An investigation by the Information and Privacy Commissioner found the pharmacist misused health information and the pharmacy manager failed to implement reasonable safeguards to protect confidentiality, including providing privacy and security training to the pharmacist.
The investigation recommended that Amani Pharmacy review and follow Shoppers Drug Mart policies and training requirements for all staff.
It also recommended improvements to Shoppers Drug Mart’s technical safeguards to protect health information.
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