The Campbell governments plan to contract out the operations of the provincial Medical Services Plan to an American firm is being challenged in the courts by the BC Government and Services Employees Union. The union says the privatization plan could see British Columbians medical records in the hands of the FBI.
The province plans to sell out its MSP and PharmaCare administration services and technical support to one of two bidders, IBM or Maximus. Because these American companies are subject to the US Patriot Act, the FBI will be able to unilaterally obtain medical records without informing the owner of the information.
The union claims that the P3 plan violates the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. It will also result in the loss of as many as 200 full-time jobs.