The Personal Health Information Act (PHIA) governs the collection, use, disclosure, retention, disposal and destruction of personal health information.

The act recognizes both the right of individuals to protect their personal health information and the need of custodians to collect, use and disclose personal health information to provide, support and manage healthcare.

The Personal Health Information Act:

• provides improved privacy protection measures to protect your health information
• balances your right to privacy with the benefits of sharing your personal health information with other health care providers involved in your care
• allows you to request access to your personal health information or request that your personal health information be corrected
• allows you to make a complaint to the custodian of your information if you feel that your information has been accessed inappropriately
• provides stronger requirements for safeguards to protect information housed in electronic information systems

Factsheets, brochures and resources  

• Health Card Number Factsheet (PDF)
• Offences and Penalties Factsheet (PDF)
• Personal Health Information Act (YouTube video)
• Personal Health Information Act Factsheet (PDF)
• Record of User Activity Factsheet (PDF)
• Summary of PHIA (YouTube video)
• Your Health Your Privacy - Personal Health Information Act Brochure (PDF)
• Your Health Your Privacy - Personal Health Information Act Brochure: French (PDF)

Related legislation

• Electronic Health Records Regulations
• Personal Health Information Act (PDF)
• Personal Health Information Regulations

Contact

Department of Health and Wellness
Health Privacy and Records Management
1894 Barrington Street
PO Box 488
Halifax, NS B3J 2R8

Phone: 902-424-5419
Toll-free: 1-855-640-4765
phia@novascotia.ca