Accountability Q: Who makes sure that POGO is conducting its work appropriately?
POGO is accountable to the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. POGO’s Privacy Officers ensure that all collections, uses and disclosures of personal information, including personal health information, comply with all applicable laws including the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004. As an example, POGO’s Privacy Officers ensure that prior to the use of personal health information for research purposes and prior to the disclosure of personal health information for research purposes without consent, that a research plan is prepared in accordance with the requirements in the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 and that the research plan has received Research Ethics Board approval. POGO also undergoes electronic security audits by external security experts to protect the confidentiality and security of personal information and personal health information. Additionally, policies, practices and procedures implemented by POGO to protect the privacy of indi
