Manitoba will soon be the first Canadian province to collect race-based data from patients at hospitals throughout the province, as part of an initiative that will collect and analyze racial, ethnic and Indigenous identity data.
The initiative is being led by Dr. Marcia Anderson, executive director, Indigenous academic affairs at Ongomiizwin, the Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba.
“We know that there are racial and ethnic disparities in access to health care, in the care people receive, and in overall health status,” said Anderson, a Cree-Anishinaabe physician who is also vice-dean Indigenous health, social justice and anti-racism of the Rady Faculty. “Manitoba has been a leader in using data to show the disproportionate effects of COVID-19 on racialized communities. Now we will be the first province to systematically collect self-declared race-based data from patients as they access care.”
Patients will be asked to voluntarily declare their identity beginning in April 2023. They will be asked to choose from a list of Indigenous identities such as First Nations Status, Inuit or Métis, or other identities such as Black, Filipino, Southeast Asian, Middle Eastern or White.
The information will be collected as a routine part of patient registration at hospitals, including emergency departments across Manitoba.
“The collection of this demographic data is essential for the measurement of health disparities that result from systemic racism, bias and discrimination,” said Monika Warren, chief operating officer of provincially co-ordinated health services and chief nursing officer at Shared Health. “While this disclosure of information is voluntary and patients are free to decline, it is an important element in our efforts to improve patient care, health reporting and planning, and health system performance and services.”
Countries such as the United States, Australia and England collect racial identifiers as part of health data, and Canada is now recognizing the need for this kind of information, Anderson said.
“We hope the public will see the benefits in participating, as they did when we collected these identifiers during the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said. “Self-declaring is a way to be counted as a member of your racial or ethnic community and contribute to health research.”
Collecting this data is part of broader health system efforts to address inequity in care and outcomes, Anderson added.
“This important initiative will inform health leadership decisions in addressing inequities and improve the patient experience throughout the province,” said Health Minister Audrey Gordon. “There is zero tolerance for racism in our health-care system, and our health-care system is committed to provide safe and inclusive patient care.”
The George and Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation (CHI) is supporting the project management of this initiative and will lead the evaluation of its implementation. CHI, which is jointly operated by UM and Shared Health, is also providing expertise on the development of staff training and educational materials, as well as the governance framework for the data.
In 2022, the Canadian Institute for Health Information released pan-Canadian standards for the collection of race-based and Indigenous identity data in health systems. The standards are intended to harmonize collection and ensure high-quality data that can be compared across jurisdictions. Manitoba’s process is aligned with these standards.
On Feb. 2, Ongomiizwin and CHI are holding a half-day community engagement event at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, titled A Discussion on Community-owned Race-based Data in Health Care. Participants will provide input and help plan for community participation and governance over the data.
“Meaningful engagement with diverse Black, Indigenous and racialized communities will be ongoing to ensure the safe, appropriate collection and use of this data,” said Anderson. “These groups will also be consulted about their priorities for data reporting and health research.”
