Quebec tables bills to make sharing health information more efficient
Quebec wants to promote information sharing between patients, their caregivers, managers and researchers, both public and private.
Health Minister Christian Dubé tabled Bill 19, described as a "mammoth" bill, on Friday, which amends 27 laws in Quebec.
He said the bill is part of a strategy to transform the health-care system to make it more "efficient and humane."
If passed, Bill 19 would remove barriers to information sharing. A patient would not only be able to see his or her own information but also know who has seen it.
Dubé also wants managers to have access to 'timely' information so they can make the right choices, which he said was a weakness in the system during the pandemic.
"We saw that ... particularly at the beginning of the pandemic, the lack of real-time information was critical," Dubé said in a news conference. "There is information that we received two or three weeks late, and I think we can't go through that again. We really need to catch up on the information gathering."
The minister aims to simplify access to information for researchers in the public system, in order to promote developing innovative treatments.
For researchers in the private sector, Quebec wants to create an organization, a "trusted third party," responsible for receiving and processing their requests.
A patient could refuse to have his or her data accessible to external researchers.
PROTECTING PERSONAL DATA
Quebec said it is committing to keeping citizens informed of any anticipated uses of their information, in addition to applying mechanisms to protect that information. The province would penalize anyone who accesses documents without the right to do so.
A departmental health information officer would be appointed to be accountable for decisions made in relation to access granted. The Access to Information Commission would have the power to conduct investigations.
At a news conference on Friday, Quebec Solidaire health spokesperson Vincent Marissal expressed concern that personal information could be used for private purposes.
"We will be against any form of commercialization or even sharing of personal information that belongs to Quebecers," he said.
Dubé said the sale of health or social services information will be prohibited. He also gave himself one year after the adoption of the bill to make the changes provided for in it.
This is the third bill in a few weeks that the Legault government has introduced related to health care, following bills about doctors' pay and youth protection.
"These are three bills that the government says it is determined to support, but it (...) is going to have difficulty carrying out the consultations, doing the clause-by-clause study before the October 3, 2022 election," said Liberal party house leader André Fortin.
"For us, the government has put itself in a rather precarious position at this level."
-- This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Dec. 3, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Canadian couple among tourists on sinking sailing boat tour abroad
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their “extremely dangerous” experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Accused of burglary at stepmother's home, U.S. senator says she wanted her father's ashes: charges
A Minnesota state senator and former broadcast meteorologist told police that she broke into her stepmother's home because her stepmother refused to give her items of sentimental value from her late father, including his ashes, according to burglary charges filed Tuesday.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.