First Nations Consultation on Proposed Health Information Legislation in B.C.
The Ministry of Health at the Province of B.C. are inviting First Nations title and rights holders to participate in upcoming consultation and cooperation sessions on proposed changes to the Health Information Management Act (HIMA).
What is HIMA?
The Health Information Management Act (HIMA) is a proposed new law to govern health information in B.C. The intent of HIMA is to support improved, safer health care throughout B.C. by providing clear and consistent rules for the management of personal health information across the health sector.
HIMA aims to improve information sharing across the health sector, including with First Nations health organizations, for timely and quality care for patients, families, and communities.
What we are doing
The Ministry is exploring policy ideas with First Nations to address key challenges raised by First Nations during town halls in 2022 (see What We Heard Report). The Ministry intends to develop these policies in consultation and cooperation with First Nations prior to new HIMA legislation being drafted.
Goals of consultation and cooperation
The Ministry is required under section 3 of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) to consult and cooperate with Indigenous Peoples for the alignmnet of laws with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Areas that may further align with UNDRIP through consultation and cooperation with the title and rights holders could include identifying ways through HIMA to:
- Address gaps in health information sharing with First Nations to improve patient care;
- Enable Nation-rebuilding through easier access to information for health stewardship;
- Complement Indigenous data sovereignty, legal orders, and cultural ways of managing health information; and
- Ensure academic health research done with title and rights holders is grounded in community protocols.
Who should attend
B.C. First Nations title and rights holders are invited to participate in upcoming consultation and cooperation sessions. The suggested primary audience is the leadership of your First Nation or anyone you wish to represent your Nation on your behalf. You may also wish to extend the invitation to members of your community.
Additionally, we recommend inviting health directors, health staff, and information privacy professionals employed within your government. We recognize that these employees may not be considered title and rights holders. As such, we defer to your discretion whether to extend the invitation to your staff for the main consultation session, or alternatively, have the Ministry arrange separate 1-1 conversations with your staff.
We recognize that conversations on health information may raise issues of a personal nature. Indigenous facilitators from Mahihkan Management will be present to enable a culturally safe and respectful experience that protects the privacy of participants.
How to participate
B.C.'s Ministry of Health is working with Mahihkan Management to facilitate both in-person and virtual regional dialogue sessions across the province, to be held between September and November 2023.
Funding for travel and accommodation will need to be approved through the Declaration Act Engagement Fund (DAEF) and on behalf of the community. All participants attending on their own time will be provided a cultural services gift of $100 for their time.
The Kamloops session will be held from 1:00-3:30 pm on October 19, 2023 at the Coast Kamloops Hotel and Conference Centre located at 1250 Rogers Way, Kamloops, BC V1S 1N5.
If you are unable to attend the engagement in person then a virtual option will be available. Please indicate your virtual availability in the registration form and we will provide the login information at a later date.
Registration will be open at 12:15 pm at the Coast Kamloops Hotel and Conference Centre. Please join us early for registration and lunch!
Questions about the session? Please contact us via email at events@mahihkan.ca
Mahihkan Management is pleased to be supporting the Ministry of Health and the Province of B.C. with event management and facilitation services for the upcoming session.
