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  • PHIA
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    • Make a PHIA complaint
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    • PHIA Practice Notes and Guidelines
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PHIA

The Personal Health Information Act (PHIA) came into force on December 11, 1997. It was the first legislation of its kind in Canada designed specifically to provide access to information rights and protection of privacy rights concerning personal health information. Significant amendments to PHIA came into effect on May 1, 2010, January 1, 2011 and January 1, 2022.

PHIA applies to "trustees": health professionals, health-care facilities, public bodies and health services agencies that collect or maintain personal health information. The act governs an individual's access to his or her own personal health information held by trustees and sets out requirements that trustees must follow to protect the privacy of personal health information.

Personal Health Information Act

Personal Health Information Regulation

For more information on the legislation, see the Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living (MHSAL) PHIA pages at http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/phia/index.html that include brief summaries on PHIA and trustee guides.

MHSAL has developed a PHIA Online Training Program to assist trustees in complying with PHIA. For information about this program, please see https://www.gov.mb.ca/health/phia/training.html

Users of our website are cautioned that our guides to and summaries of the legislation are not exhaustive. The original text should be consulted for all purposes of interpreting and applying the law. Our opinions, comments and recommendations are based on substantive investigation, research and analysis, but we are not legal counsel or a court of law.