Laptop containing health information for thousands stolen, province seeking investigation

[Audrey McNeil <audrey () riskbasedsecurity com>]

http://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/laptop-containing-health-information-for-thousands-stolen-province-seeking-investigation-1.1651500

Alberta’s Health Minister issued a statement Wednesday saying he had
requested an official investigation into the theft of a laptop containing
the personal health information of thousands of Albertans, in the fall.

Minister Fred Horne said in the statement the Vice President of Medicentres
Family Health Care Clinics had informed him a laptop with identifying
information such as the name, date of birth, provincial health care card
numbers, and billing and diagnostic codes for 620,000 Albertans had been
stolen in September, 2013.

“I am extremely disappointed that it has taken this long for this to be
brought to the government’s attention,” Horne said in the statement.
“Albertans want to know that their information is secure and protected.”

Horne said the theft had been reported to the Edmonton Police Service, and
Alberta’s Privacy Commissioner.

On Wednesday, Horne said he had formally asked the Privacy Commissioner to
conduct an official investigation, under the Health Information Act “with
an aim to find out what happened, why health authorities have only just
been informed, and what, if any, breaches of privacy legislation may have
occurred.”

Horne said he had also contacted the College of Physicians and Surgeons and
the Alberta Medical Association over the issue.

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