The Liberals and New Democrats have each promised to introduce legislation to make it easier for patients and doctors to access and share medical records and other health data. The Bloc Québécois says provincial laws already cover health data and that Quebec would likely be exempt from any federal law, while the Conservatives would not share their position on the issue. The Globe and Mail’s Secret Canada series recently published an investigation into the country’s fragmented medical-records system, revealing how inefficiencies were wasting precious health-care resources and potentially leading to medical errors. Patients can struggle to access their own medical records, which may reside in doctor’s offices, hospitals, pharmacies and other locations. Sharing records with each other can be difficult. And physicians are often forced to waste hours inputting information or ordering duplicate tests because they don’t have access to ones that have already been completed. Justin Trudeau’s government introduced Bill C-72 last summer, which set national standards to ensure that different electronic health record systems could work with each other. That bill died when Parliament was prorogued in January. In its election wish list, the Canadian Medical Association urged the federal parties to reintroduce the bill and work with the provinces to standardize health data so “access and quality of care are consistently measured, evaluated and reported on across the country.” The Liberal platform under Leader Mark Carney says Canadian patients and doctors should have easy and quick access to medical records and promises to introduce legislation to make that happen. “Better data that moves with patients to each new appointment means better care, better outcomes, and more choice for patients,” the platform says. It also says the Liberals would launch a new program to support doctors in using digital tools, such as e-referrals, and streamline forms to “significantly reduce paperwork.” The NDP platform does not mention health data. But a spokesperson said the party supported Bill C-72 and that such legislation would help improve access to primary care. “The ability to access a patient’s information and history is critical for doctors and health professionals providing care,” Peter Julian said in a statement. The Conservatives did not respond to requests for comment on the issue, nor is it mentioned in the party’s platform. A search of parliamentary debate did not show any Conservative MPs speaking about Bill C-72 or access to health records under Leader Pierre Poilievre. Bloc Québécois spokesperson Joanie Riopel said Quebec already regulates health data in the province, which would likely have made it exempt from Bill C-72. Quebec’s provincial government is currently moving all hospitals to a single electronic records system built by U.S. software company Epic. Other regions have made similar moves in recent years, including hospitals around Ottawa and in Alberta. The federal election is scheduled for Monday, April 28.