Unlock Health Records, Save Canadian Lives
Michael Serbinis
Our Aim
Canada’s healthcare system is suffering from self-imposed barriers and lack of communication. We should integrate Canada's fragmented health data systems to save lives, reduce costs, and give every Canadian the safe, modern healthcare they deserve.
Summary
Imagine rushing your elderly mother to the emergency room at 2 AM. The doctor asks what medications she takes. You know there's a long list, but in the stress of the moment, you can't remember them all. Your mother's family doctor has the list, but they're closed. The hospital uses a different computer system and can't see her records. The doctor has to make decisions without complete information.
Variations on this story happen every day across Canada. Our health information is stuck in different computer systems that don't talk to each other, and even in paper files. Your family doctor, the hospital, your pharmacy, and your specialists each keep separate records. It's as if your child's teachers couldn't share notes with each other - imagine if the math teacher couldn't see what was happening in science class, the gym teacher had no idea about potential health issues, and the principal had to start from scratch understanding your child's needs every time you met. We wouldn't accept this disconnected approach in our children's education - why do we accept it with our health?
The Problem
Our healthcare data systems are critically outdated. To give just one example. In Ontario healthcare workers send 152 million faxes each year1 and it's been estimated almost 10% of these faxes end up in the wrong place2.This broken system:
- Puts patients at risk when doctors don't have complete information
- Wastes healthcare workers' time hunting down records
- Regularly exposes patients private medical information to the wrong people
- Forces repeat tests because results aren't shared
- Makes it harder to spot and stop disease outbreaks
- Costs Canadians over $2.1 billion each year in wasted time and resources3
In 2024 the government introduced Bill C-72 to try and change this but this bill will never become law, and was inadequate anyway. It relied on voluntary provincial buy-in, which would create yet another patchwork of varying regulations.
The Solution
We need to create a system where:
- Your health information follows you wherever you get care
- Doctors can quickly see your relevant medical history
- You can easily access and control your own health records
- These changes are implemented everywhere in Canada
Think of it like your banking - you can use your debit card at any ATM across Canada because banks have secure ways to share information. We need the same for healthcare.
Why This Matters
These changes are urgently needed:
This Technology Exists Today. The solutions are simple. We don't need to invent anything new, just set standards and improve coordination. Estonia has been running a similar system successfully for over a decade and the standards for healthcare data already exist.
Canadians Want This. 80% of Canadians want easy online access to their health records, but only 50% have any kind of access today4,5.
Every Day We Wait Costs Lives. The COVID-19 pandemic showed how dangerous our fragmented health data system is.
If we do this right we can create the most advanced and effective healthcare system in the world giving Canadians more access and control over their data while empowering our healthcare professionals to provide the highest standard of care possible.
What It Will Take
To create this system will require new legislation, financial mechanisms to help healthcare providers make the transition, and new Federal digital infrastructure efforts. There will be a small lift but taken together these changes will save us $2.1 billion every year by:
- Reducing duplicate tests
- Preventing medical errors
- Making healthcare more efficient
- Saving patients time
How We'll Do It
Step 1: Change the Rules (First 6 Months)
- Update the Canada Health Act, and the Canada Health Transfer agreements as well as introduce new legislation to require healthcare providers to standardise and share records
- Create clear national rules for how to share health information securely while respecting patients privacy and giving Canadians control over their health data
- Start test projects in provinces to confirm the best way to implement the rollout
Key technical detail: We'll establish the Health Data Standards Authority to oversee national health data sharing standards like HL7 FHIR (a common language for healthcare systems to communicate).
Step 2: Build the System (6-18 Months)
- Create the secure networks needed to share information
- Help doctors' offices and hospitals connect their systems
- Train healthcare workers on the new system
Technical detail: We'll implement standardized APIs (secure connection points) that let different healthcare computer systems share information safely, with industry standards for health data.
Step 3: Connect Everything (18-36 Months)
- Link all major healthcare providers across Canada
- Provide secure access to your health records records through a new Federal online portal and through commonly available mobile devices (Android, iPhone)
Common Questions
Will my healthcare data be safe? The current scattered system actually creates more privacy risks than a well-designed connected system6. Estonia has proven that this kind of system can better protect your information and give you more control7.
Will the provinces still run healthcare? Provinces will still run their healthcare systems but will use common standards to share information. Federal funding will help with costs.
Will this system cost more? Estonia’s experience shows the initial investment pays for itself through better care and less waste8. We can learn from their success.
Think back to that emergency room at 2 AM. Now imagine the doctor can instantly see your mother's complete medical history - every medication, allergy, and condition. That's not just convenient - it could save her life. This is about making our healthcare system work better for everyone. Other countries have proven this works. It's time for Canada to act.
Indicative Legal Changes
