The Department of Health and Wellness is committed to protecting your privacy and the confidentiality of your personal health information in the Drug Information System as outlined in Nova Scotia’s Personal Health Information Act (PHIA).
Information is kept in strict confidence; only authorized healthcare providers involved in your care have access to your medication information.
The Drug Information System is built with strong security features such as encryption and multi-layer firewalls. These features help prevent your personal health information from being inappropriately accessed or viewed.
Additionally, all health care providers using the Drug Information System are made aware of their responsibilities to protect the privacy and confidentiality of your personal health information, and all access to your profile is recorded.
At any time you have the right to request the following for information contained in the Drug Information System:
In addition, you have the right to be notified if there has been a breach of your privacy which could potentially cause you harm or embarrassment. You may also make a written complaint at any time if you believe the Drug Information System has not followed the privacy requirements of the law.
You also have the option to restrict access to your medication profile. While this allows you to control who views your profile, it is important you understand the risks associated with doing so. If you choose to restrict access, you need to be aware that your healthcare providers have the discretion to refuse service, or if an interaction is detected it may lead to a delay in care.
If you would like more information about privacy, visit the Personal Health Information Act website.
If you wish to speak to someone about your privacy rights or about restricting access to your medication profile, please contact the Privacy Office at 1-855-640-4765 or PHIA@novascotia.ca.
Frequently Asked Questions
See common questions received about the Drug Information System.
Have questions about privacy? Visit the Personal Health Information Act website or call the Privacy Office at 1-855-640-4765