Ontario has appointed Dr. Jane Phillpott as a special advisor on the province’s health data platform. The platform will provide anonymized health data to researchers and health system to help them better understand COVID-19.
The platform is being developed in consultation with the Ontario Privacy commissioner. It will allow researchers to help with:
- Increasing detection of COVID-19;
- Discovering risk factors for vulnerable populations;
- Predicting when and where outbreaks may happen;
- Evaluating how preventative and treatment measures are working; and
- Identifying where to allocate equipment and other resources.
“This data platform will provide our world-class researchers and health system partners with secure access to better and more consistent population data, improving decision-making in health care and aiding our efforts to beat COVID-19,” Health Minister Christine Elliott said.
Philpott will also provide recommendations to the President of Treasury Board. Members of the roundtable include public health, research, and clinical experts. “Whether on the frontlines of health care or as a medical educator, or in this new role as special advisor, I’m honoured to be part of Ontario’s fight against COVID-19,” Philpott said. Throughout the pandemic, she’s been working on the frontlines in Markham-Stoufville hospital, as well as at Participation House. She previously served as a Liberal MP, and Health Minister.
