Health Data
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If you'd like to read more about Ontario's efforts to achieve provincial-wide, real-time, seamless data sharing, check out our progress here.
Studies performed in Canada, the United Kingdom and internationally have all found public support and social licence for uses of health data that produce public benefits. However, this support is conditional. Public concerns related to privacy, commercial motives, equity and fairness must be addressed.
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Participants agreed it is within social licence for health data to be used by:
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health-care practitioners — to directly improve the health-care decisions and services provided to a patient.
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governments, health-care facilities and health-system administrators — to understand and improve health care and the health-care system.
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university-based researchers — to understand the drivers of disease and well-being.
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Participants agreed that it is not within social licence for:
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an individual or organization to sell (or re-sell) another person’s identified health data.
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health data to be used for a purpose that has no patient, public or societal benefit.