The Act restricts use and production of health cards and health numbers, with specific exceptions, and creates an offence for violating the rule.
c t PROVINCIAL HEALTH NUMBER ACT PLEASE NOTE This document, prepared by the Legislative Counsel Office, is an office consolidation of this Act, current to November 29, 2023. It is intended for information and reference purposes only. This document is not the official version of the Act. The Act and the amendments as printed under the authority of the King’s Printer for the province should be consulted to determine the authoritative statement of the law. For more information concerning the history of this Act, please see the Table of Public Acts on the Prince Edward Island Government web site (www.princeedwardisland.ca). If you find any errors or omissions in this consolidation, please contact: Legislative Counsel Office Tel: (902) 368-4292 Email: legislation@gov.pe.ca Provincial Health Number Act Section 1 c PROVINCIAL HEALTH NUMBER ACT CHAPTER P-27.01 1. Definitions In this Act (a) “health and community service” means a service, thing, subsidy or other benefit that is funded in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, by the province and that is related to health, social welfare, income security, vital statistics or such other service as may be prescribed; (b) “health card” means a health card provided to a person who has a health number; (c) “health number” means the number assigned under the authority of the Minister or the Minister of Social Development and Seniors to a person entitled to receive health and community services that uniquely identifies that person for the purpose of receiving such services; (d) “Minister” means the Minister of Health and Wellness. 1997,c.37,s.1; 2005,c.40,s.27; 2010,c.31,s.3; 2012,c.17,s.2; 2015,c.28,s.3; 2019,c.1,s.3; 2023,c.20,s.2. 2. Confidentiality of health numbers and cards (1) Except as authorized by this section, no person shall (a) require the production of another person’s health card; (b) collect or use another person’s health number. Exception, health and community services (2) A person may require the production of another person’s health card and collect or use another person’s health number for purposes related to the provision and administration, and such planning and research as may be authorized by the Minister, of health and community services. Exception, prescribed persons (3) A person prescribed in the regulations may collect or use health numbers for purposes related to the administration or planning of health and community services or for research or epidemiological studies. Exception, professional governing bodies (4) The statutory regulatory body which governs a profession whose members provide health and community services may collect or use health numbers for purposes related to its functions. 1997,c.37,s.2. c t Current to: November 29, 2023 Page 3 Section 3 Provincial Health Number Act 3. Offence Every person who contravenes subsection 2(1) is guilty of an offence and is liable on summary conviction (a) in the case of an individual, to a fine of not more than $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months; (b) in the case of a corporation, to a fine of not more than $25,000. 1997,c.37,s.3. 4. Regulations The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations. 1997,c.37,s.1. Page 4 Current to: November 29, 2023 t c