Health Information Introduction

Your health information can contain many types of information, ranging from general to very personal information. Some of the information that may be included, but is not exhaustive to, includes the following: 

• Past illnesses and treatments 
• Prescribed medication 
• Details of your physical and mental health 
• Copies of any tests such as blood tests, x-rays, and MRIs 
• Doctor’s notes that include what you communicated during appointments 
• Doctor’s opinions and conclusions about your health 
• Doctor’s treatment recommendations 
• Letters between your doctor and other doctors (such as specialists) about you if you were referred for an exam or opinion  
• The health history of your family members  
• Your personal health number, address, phone number, and possibly details of any private insurance coverage 

The range of information each of your health care providers know will vary between each provider as it depends on what is needed to give you treatment. The health care provider can give you the best advice and care when they have all the relevant facts.  

Doctors 

In general, your doctor will need to know as much as possible about you in order to provide the best care. You may feel inclined to forego sharing certain information if you believe it is not important, but it is best for the doctor to decide whether it is important or not. The doctor can give you the best advice and care when they have all the relevant facts. 

However, not every doctor needs to know the same things. For example, a specialist may only need specific health information to treat you in comparison to your family doctor.  

Other Health Care Providers 

In most cases, pharmacists will need to know all of the drugs you are taking in order to provide the best management of your health. Specifically, there may be a risk of negative interactions or side effects.  

Other health care providers that may have your personal health information can include physiotherapists, social workers, and nurses. These people will generally need only a limited amount of your personal health information, but it varies case by case.  

Regardless of your health care provider, you have a right to be comfortable with what they know and what you share with them. It is essential to be able to communicate your wishes with your health care provider. 

The Canadian health care system is complex in structure. A general guide for newcomers to BC can be found in the BC Newcomers’ Guide to Resources and Services.  

Canadian Health Care System 

Access to Canada’s health care services is a national right guided by the Canada Health Act (“CHA”). However, health care is organized and administered by each provincial or territorial government, creating differences between every province or territory. In order for provinces and territories to receive federal health care funding through the form of the Canada Health Transfer (“CHT”), provinces and territories must fulfill certain criteria and conditions under the aim of the CHA: to “ensure that all eligible residents of Canada have reasonable access to insured health services on a prepaid basis, without direct charges at the point of service for such services”.  

National Coverage Requirements 

Canada’s health care system is often referred to as “universal” in that all eligible Canadians have access. “Universal” does not mean that every single medical service is covered by provincial and territorial health insurance plans.  

Provincial and territorial health insurance plans are required to cover the following services as per the CHA:  

hospital services provided to in-patients or out-patients,  

• services that are medically necessary for the purpose of maintaining health, 
• preventing disease or diagnosing or treating an injury, illness, or disability; and  
• medically required physician services rendered by medical practitioners. 

Several hospital services are not insured by provincial and territorial health insurance plans as they are not deemed medically necessary by the CHA. These services can include private duty nursing services and preferred hospital accommodations. 

Please visit the following page for the “coverage” source information.  

BC Health Care System 

The BC health care system is legislated and governed by the Public Health Act, which covers current and emerging public health issues. The Public Health Act in conjunction with the Ministry of Health Act grants the Ministry of Health the resources to fulfill their responsibility of ensuring British Columbians have quality, appropriate, cost effective, and timely health services. The Ministry of Health is responsible for major BC health programs such as the Medical Services Plan (“MSP”) which insures BC residents for required medical services, and PharmaCare to help BC residents pay for some prescription drugs, medical supplies, and pharmacy services. BC also has a Provincial Health Officer (“PHO”), who is an independent body that focuses on public and population health and reports to the Ministry of Health. 

In order for the Ministry of Health to effectively fulfill their responsibilities, the Ministry of Health works with the Provincial Health Services Authority who is in charge of managing the five Regional Health Authorities as well as organizations that provide specialized health care services. Each Regional Health Authority tailors their health care services for the needs for their respective region.  

Each health authority has a team of Chief Medical Officers (“CMO”) who help lead their respective BC region. Health authorities are responsible for the health care services directly provided to you by health care providers as well as the broader regional health care systems themselves. The five health authorities are: 

• Fraser 
• Interior 
• Northern 
• Vancouver Coastal 
• Vancouver Island Health Authority 

Please visit the following page for more information and to locate your BC health authority.  

MSP and PharmaCare Coverage 

MSP covers many health services such as specifically required medical services. However, not every health service is covered. Some covered services include: 

• Services provided by physicians and midwives 
• Dental and oral surgery in the hospital 
• Medically required eye examinations  
• Some orthodontic services 
• Diagnostic services like x-rays 

Services provided by the private sector are not covered by MSP, which can include: 

• Dental and oral 
• Optometry  

Please visit the following page for more information about MSP coverage. 

Most prescribed drugs and many pharmacy services are covered by BC PharmaCare if you are eligible.  

Please visit the following page for more information about BC PharmaCare coverage.  

MSP and PharmaCare Eligibility 

Every BC resident must enroll with the Medical Services Plan. To be a resident, one must satisfy all of the following conditions: 

• must be a citizen of Canada or be lawfully admitted to Canada for permanent residence; 
• must make his or her home in B.C.; and  
• must be physically present in B.C. at least six months in a calendar year, or at least five months in a calendar year if absence is due to vacation purposes only. 

Dependents of MSP beneficiaries are also eligible if they are residents themselves, and can be eligible for resident status if they have provided an application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (“IRCC”) and specific fees have been fully paid. All BC residents who are Status Indians will be enrolled in MSP by the First Nations Health Authority. Other individuals may also be deemed residents. 

Please visit the following page for MSP eligibility information.  

All BC residents are eligible for Fair PharmaCare if they have MSP coverage and allow PharmaCare to check their income through the Canada Revenue Agency.  

Please visit the following pages for more information about Fair PharmaCare and for  PharmaCare.