Data sets available

Population Data BC (PopData) facilitates access to data from PopData partners, including both federal and provincial sources, and  supports the delivery of the BC Ministry of Health's Health Data Platform (HDP). A wide range of data, from both federal and provincial sources is available across these access streams.

Data available through PopData and the HDP

• Data sets are linkable to each other, and to other externally-managed data sets (including researcher-collected data), where approved by the data provider
• PopData supports access to data sets from other data sources, for example a data set from a provider that is not currently a data partner, and with whom PopData would need to negotiate an information sharing agreement
• Spatial data may also be used in conjunction with many data sets available through PopData

Core vs. Non-Core Data

• Core Data: Some data available through PopData and the HDP are ‘Core Data’. Core Data are data identified by the data provider as 'Safe Data' and eligible for pre-approved release, with the exception of PharmaNet data. Core Data includes commonly-requested data columns, but not necessarily all of the columns available in a data set. For example, some Core Data fields, such as geography or organisational codes, have been suppressed for increased privacy.
  
  Please note that the overall data access request is subject to meeting ALL of the Five SAFEs requirements, not just the Safe Data component. For more detail on the Five SAFEs, visit the HDP website.
   
• Non-Core Data: Non-Core Data are data NOT identified by the data provider as 'Safe Data' and thus are NOT eligible for pre-approved release. Access to Non-Core Data follows the usual processes and will not follow expedited review procedures.

For the majority of DARs, requesting access to Core Data may make the data access approval process quicker and reduce the wait time for data access. It may also reduce the need for time-consuming data amendments related to a request for additional data fields or changes to study populations.

Data sets available 

The tables below show the data sets available by category. For more detailed information on the data set, click on the name of the data set. 

Demographic

Data set	Data type	HDP	PopData
BC Vital Events and Statistics: Births Data source: BC Ministry of Health	Registry	Core	Core Non-Core
BC Vital Events and Statistics: Deaths Data source: BC Ministry of Health	Registry	Core	Core Non-Core
BC Vital Events and Statistics: Marriages Data source: BC Ministry of Health	Registry	Core	Core Non-Core
BC Vital Events and Statistics: Stillbirths Data source: BC Ministry of Health	Registry	Core	Core Non-Core
Central Demographics File (MSP Registration and  Premium Billings, Client Roster and Census Geodata)/Consolidation File Data source: BC Ministry of Health	Registry	Core	Core Non-Core

 

Education

Data set	Data type	HDP	PopData
K to 12 Student Demographics and Achievements Data source: Ministry of Education	Administrative		Non-Core

 

Environment and Resources

Data set	Data type	HDP	PopData
Canadian Urban Environmental Health Research Consortium (CANUE) Data source: various	Various		Non-Core

 

Health

Data set	Data type	HDP	PopData
811 Data source: BC Ministry of Health	Administrative	Core	Core Non-Core
BC Cancer Registry Data source: BC Cancer	Registry		Non-Core
BC Perinatal Data Registry Data source: Perinatal Services BC	Registry/Administrative		Non-Core
Chronic Disease Registry Data source: BC Ministry of Health	Registry	Core	Core Non-Core
COVID Acute Admissions Data source: BC Ministry of Health	Administrative	Core	Core Non-Core
COVID Case data Data source: BC Ministry of Health	Administrative	Core	Core Non-Core
COVID Test Lab Data source: BC Ministry of Health	Lab results	Core	Core Non-Core
Discharge Abstracts Database (Hospital Separations) Data source: BC Ministry of Health	Administrative	Core	Core Non-Core
Health System Matrix Data source: BC Minis	Administrative	Core	Core Non-Core
Home and Community Care (Continuing Care) Data source: BC Ministry of Health	Administrative		Core Non-Core
ICU Admissions Data source: BC Ministry of Health	Administrative	Core	Core Non-Core
Medical Services Plan (MSP) Payment Information File Data source: BC Ministry of Health	Administrative	Core	Core Non-Core
Mental Health Services Data source: BC Ministry of Health	Administrative		Core Non-Core
National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (NACRS) Data source: BC Ministry of Health	Administrative	Core	Core Non-Core
PCM - Acute Inpatient 2016/2017 Survey Data source: Various	Survey		Core Non-Core
PCM - Emergency Department 2018 Survey Data source: Various	Survey		Core Non-Core
PCM - Long Term Care Survey 2016/2017 Data source: Various	Survey		Core Non-Core
PharmaCare Data source: BC Ministry of Health	Administrative		Core Non-Core
PharmaNet Data source: BC Ministry of Health	Administrative	Core	Core Non-Core
Registration and Premium Billings (RBP Lite, unconsolidated) Data source: BC Ministry of Health	Administrative		Core Non-Core
Transfusion Registry Data source: BC Ministry of Health	Registry	Core	Core Non-Core

 

Social

Data set	Data type	HDP	PopData
Early Development Instrument Data source: Human Early Learning Partnership	Survey		Non-Core
Middle Years Development Instrument Data source: Human Early Learning Partnership	Survey		Non-Core
Permanent Residents Data source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada	Administrative		Non-Core

 

Work and Income

Data set	Data type	HDP	PopData
Income Band Data source: Statistics Canada	Administrative		Non-Core
WorkSafeBC Claims. Injury and Firm Level files Data source: WorkSafeBC	Administrative		Non-Core