How is POGO authorized to use health information collected in Ontario?
POGO is named as a prescribed entity for purposes of section 45 of the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004. Under this designation, POGO can receive and use personal health information without consent for analyzing and compiling statistical information that helps manage, evaluate, monitor, allocate resources and plan for our health care system. POGO receives personal health information from many sources, including persons or organizations in the health sector defined as “health information custodians” under the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004, such as the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, physicians, hospitals, laboratories, pharmacies and long-term care homes. In order to have this privilege, however, POGO must have in place policies, practices and procedures to protect the privacy of individuals whose personal health information POGO receives and to maintain the confidentiality of that information. These policies, practices and procedures must be re
