Feds revive bill to build digitally connected health data systems

The Connected Care for Canadians Act has been reintroduced and tabled in the Senate; the bill would set national standards so electronic medical records can be shared across systems while maintaining privacy rules.

The federal government has reintroduced the Connected Care for Canadians Act and tabled it in the Senate. The measure was first introduced in June 2024 and passed first reading but lapsed when Parliament was prorogued. Health Canada describes the current health data landscape as fragmented, with important patient information stuck in incompatible systems. The bill would set standards for electronic medical record systems to improve information sharing while keeping privacy protections in place. Key points: - The bill was first introduced in June 2024 and must now proceed through the Parliamentary process after being tabled in the Senate. - Health Canada says incomplete records and siloed systems can compromise patient care and safety. - If passed, the legislation would establish standards for companies that develop electronic medical records so data can be shared between providers and across provinces and territories. - The bill would prohibit unnecessary restrictions on information access or sharing, while preserving patient privacy rules. - The department notes about 95 per cent of physicians use electronic systems but many still rely on fax and paper referrals because systems do not connect. - Health Canada says harmonized, shareable data could support coordinated care in rural and underserved communities and allow de-identified data to be used for research and public health work. Summary: If the bill becomes law, it is meant to make health records more shareable across providers and jurisdictions and to set rules for vendors and privacy protections. It now faces the regular Parliamentary stages in the Senate and House; the specific timeline for those steps is undetermined at this time.