More than a year after its adoption, the law aimed at ensuring that health data is “linked to the patient” rather than to the place where the care was provided will come into force in Quebec on 1er next July, learned The duty.
The Act respecting health information and social services will allow the creation of a digital health record for patients. The latter will therefore no longer have to repeat their medical history with each new worker they use, affirms the office of the Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, in a press release. “There will be a record of all consultations. A person will not only be able to view their own information, but also know who viewed it,” he adds.
The legislative text, which was tabled in December 2022, was then adopted on March 30, 2023. According to Mr. Dubé’s office, a “more fluid circulation” of health and social services information constitutes “the cornerstone” of an efficient network. This will notably facilitate the task of managers who will be able to carry out “better decision-making and better sharing of information in the field,” he says.
“We saw, particularly at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, that we lacked a lot of information to be able to take the right actions,” emphasized Christian Dubé, when the bill was tabled.
One aspect of the law will also allow researchers to use anonymized health data for research projects. However, this will be done under certain conditions, while ensuring that confidentiality is respected. “This information is, however, necessary for the development of knowledge and technologies through research activities,” argued the minister’s office.
The rules governing access to information in health and social services, which were previously scattered in different laws, will also be grouped together in the one which will come into force on 1er July.
Further details will follow.