PHIA - Your Privacy Our Commitment

Personal Health Information Act

Your privacy - our commitment

The Department of Health and Wellness is responsible for the Nova Scotia provincial healthcare system. The department provides healthcare services to the public. The department also plans and manages the healthcare system.

Because of this role, we are granted unique authority under the Personal Health Information Act (PHIA) to collect and use your personal health information without consent to make sure we have the most complete information to analyze and make decisions about healthcare services. When we collect your personal health information, we do so only when absolutely necessary. Also, we collect your personal health information in a limited way and in the most de-identified form possible to achieve our purposes.

 

 

Your rights under PHIA

The Personal Health Information Act legislates rights of individuals and obligations of "custodians" in the health system with respect to your personal health information.
Under PHIA you have the right to:

Request access to your personal health information

Request a record of who accessed your personal health information

Request a correction if your personal health information is not accurate,
complete, and up to date

Ask us to limit the way we collect, use, or disclose your personal health information

Make a complaint if you think we have not followed the rules in PHIA

Notices

Please read the following notices if you would like additional information around your rights and the department’s obligations under the Personal Health Information Act:

Department of Health and Wellness Notice of Purposes

Department of Health and Wellness Privacy Statement