Data Requests

Publicly available statistics and custom data requests

CIHI provides access to publicly available statistics, such as through analytical reports and Quick Stats. We also meet the data needs of other stakeholders through our ad hoc custom data request process.

• Looking for publicly available data? Access our many data holdings or visit Quick Stats for aggregate-level health system data from a variety of data sources.
• Looking for more detailed information? Make a custom data request using our Data Inquiry Form. All data requests are subject to our Privacy Policy on the Collection, Use, Disclosure and Retention of Personal Health Information and De-Identified Data, 2010 and Privacy Policy on the Collection, Use, Disclosure and Retention of Health Workforce Personal Information and De-Identified Data, 2011 (updated January 2012). Each request is carried out on a cost-recovery basis. Once you’ve submitted your inquiry form, we will work with you to finalize your request and provide you with an estimated cost and timeline.
• Are you a qualifying graduate student? You can access our data at no cost through our Graduate Student Data Access Program.
• Have a media request? Please contact our media relations department directly at media@cihi.ca.

Data request information

 Data holdings
 Service standards
 Custom request pricing
 Custom request process
 Related content

Data holdings

You’ll find more information about CIHI’s data holdings here:

• Health human resources databases: Capture data on the many different professional groups that make up Canada’s health care workforce.
• Health spending databases: Find out where the money comes from and how it is spent, at both the macro and selected micro levels.
• Health services databases: Capture information across the continuum of health care services in Canada.

Service standards

External custom data request service standards

CIHI is committed to providing high-quality services that incorporate the principles of accessibility, responsiveness, timeliness and accountability and that ensure data quality.

When we receive a data request, we provide services in a responsive, timely and collaborative manner; in turn, we ask that you provide all required supporting documents in a timely manner, formulate your requests as accurately as possible and be available to respond to questions when the need arises.

Our service standards for data request turnaround times are based on the type and complexity of each request. We will complete a preliminary assessment of your data needs and determine whether it is a standard, complex or very complex request. Please see the examples below as a guide.

Once we have received all of the necessary information from you and the data requirements have been documented and finalized, we will process your data request. We’ll provide you with the data within the service standard time frames listed below.

• Aggregate-Level Data Requests (table)
• Record-Level Data Requests (table)

Custom request pricing

CIHI responds to custom data requests on a cost-recovery basis. CIHI will invoice clients based on production time: the number of hours needed to review the data request, consult on and develop specifications, manipulate and/or analyze data, seek advice from CIHI’s support areas, perform data quality assurance and transmit data.

Clients are charged as follows:

• $145 per hour for Price A, which is applicable to Canadian health care facilities, governments, not-for-profit health agencies, universities (except for students through the Graduate Student Data Access Program), health professionals and researchers from the public sector
• $290 per hour for Price B, which is applicable to private commercial operations (including but not limited to software vendors and consultants), foreign clients and others not qualifying for Price A

CIHI offers the first two hours of production time at no charge for Price A only.

Custom data request fees are subject to the goods and services tax (GST) or harmonized sales tax (HST). The GST/HST will be added to the client’s invoice, where applicable, as a separate identifiable charge.

Custom request process

Follow these steps for a custom data request:

1. Browse CIHI’s website: Browse CIHI’s data holding pages to narrow down the main topics and databases of interest. These pages often contain information on data elements as well as data availability.
2. Submit a form: Complete and submit the online Data Inquiry Form, which will be routed to the appropriate department based on the main topic you selected.
3. Obtain an assessment: We will provide you with an assessment of our data’s ability to answer your research question or data needs, as well as our conditions to release data in accordance with our privacy and data release policies. We will also flag any need for additional authorizations or approvals that may be required or additional CIHI expertise (such as from the Classifications department) that may be required to fulfill your request.
4. Finalize your request: Working closely with you, we will finalize the specifications of your data request and ensure that appropriate documentation (for example, formal data request forms for third-party requests) is completed. During this stage, we will be in the best position to provide you with an estimated price and timeline.
5. Receive secure data delivery: Once the data is processed and verified, we will make arrangements with you regarding its secure delivery. For third-party, record-level data requests, CIHI has a follow-up program in place to ensure that clients securely destroy CIHI’s data after a specified period of time, as stated in the non-disclosure/confidentiality agreement, which must be signed by you and all persons accessing the data. Also, as part of this confidentiality agreement, you agree to permit CIHI to visit your premises and conduct an audit. See the Information Sheet on CIHI’s Privacy Audit Program for Third-Party Record-Level Data Recipients (March, 2012) (PDF, 97 KB).