Manitoba ombudsman investigates breach of private health information

WINNIPEG—Manitoba’s ombudsman is looking into a breach in protocol that saw a former Manitoba Health employee access the personal health information of at least 13 people.

Bernadette Preun, assistant deputy minister, says employees sign a pledge to comply with the personal health information act.

She says for the most part, employees are very respectful of the personal health information they have access to.

But she says the department does have measures in place to be able to monitor the use of that information and that’s how the breach came to light.

Preun says the department is contacting all those who had their health information accessed.

Preun says the information would include medical records, identification, and drug prescriptions.