Mandate

The NL Health Services mandate is derived from the Provincial Health Authority Act and its regulations. NL Health Services is responsible for the delivery and administration of health services and community services in Newfoundland and Labrador, in accordance with the above-referenced legislation and other relevant legislation and regulations. The Provincial Health Authority Act outlines the responsibility of health authorities as the following under sections 19 and 20:  

Responsibilities of authority re: health and community services  

1. The authority is responsible for the delivery and administration of health and community services in the province in accordance with this Act and the regulations.  
2. In carrying out its responsibilities, the authority shall 
   • promote and protect the health and well-being of persons in the province and develop and implement measures for the prevention of disease and injury and the advancement of health and well-being;
   • assess health and community services needs on an ongoing basis; 
   • develop objectives and priorities for the provision of health and community services which meet the needs of the province and which are consistent with the objectives and priorities established by the minister;  
   • manage and allocate resources, including funds provided by the government for health and community services, in accordance with this Act; 
   • ensure that services are provided in a manner that coordinates and integrates health and community services; 
   • collaborate with other persons and organizations, including federal, provincial and municipal governments and agencies, to coordinate health and community services in the province and to achieve provincial objectives and priorities;  
   • collect and analyze health and community services information for use in the development and implementation of health and community services policies and programs for the province; 
   • provide information to the residents of the province respecting 
     • the services provided by the authority,  
     • how they may gain access to those services, and 
     • how they may communicate with the authority respecting the provision of those services by the authority; 
   • monitor and evaluate the delivery of health and community services and compliance with
     • standards, 
     • objectives, and 
     • guidelines established or adopted under paragraph 5(1)(b) 
   • develop and maintain standards of care for the delivery of provincial programs; 
   • oversee accountability for health outcomes through monitoring and reporting on quality, safety and performance; 
   • in conjunction with the minister, implement a provincial strategy for recruitment and retention of health professionals;  
   • comply with the direction for the delivery and administration of health and community services set by the minister;  
   • report to the minister on matters related to the delivery of health and community services when requested; and  
   • comply with directions the minister may provide.  

Responsibilities of authority re: information management  

1. The authority is responsible for:  
   • providing assistance and support to individuals, communities, other health service providers and policy makers at federal, provincial and regional levels to enhance the health and well-being of persons in the province through the planning and delivery of health and community services by 
     • developing, operating and managing a comprehensive and aligned information system that fully integrates and uses data and health information from all components of the health and community services system for the delivery of health-care and health system planning, 
     • developing data and technical standards and keeping them up-to-date, 
     • managing provincial health data and information assets, 
     • preparing health reports and conducting applied health research and evaluation, and 
     • providing health analytics and decision support services; 
   • protecting the privacy of individuals whose personal information or personal health information is collected, used, disclosed, stored or disposed of by the authority in accordance with the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, 2015 and the Personal Health Information Act;  
   • monitoring and evaluating the development, operation and management of an information system and compliance with  
     • standards,  
     • objectives, and 
     • guidelines established or adopted under paragraph 5(1)(b);  
   • providing the minister with information, when requested, to enhance the health and well-being of persons in the province through the planning and delivery of health and community services; and 
   • carrying out other responsibilities prescribed by the regulations.
2. The information system referred to in subparagraph (1)(a)(i) shall
   • protect the confidentiality and security of personal information and personal health information that is collected, used, disclosed, stored or disposed of by the authority; 
   • provide accurate and current information; 
   • be efficient and cost-effective; and 
   • be flexible and responsive to the changing requirements of the system.
3. In carrying out its responsibilities the authority shall comply with directions the minister may provide.