The provincial healthy ministry will notify more than 38,000 people that their health information was improperly shared.

Last June, a USB stick containing health survey information from Statistics Canada, was shared with an individual for research purposes without authorization.

Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid announced Monday three specific instances where personal health data was inappropriately accessed, saved on portable storage devices and shared with researchers and/or contractors without required permissions and protocols being followed.

"There continues to be no evidence that information was accessed or used for purposes other than health research," said MacDiarmid.

"However, the ministry takes its responsibility to safeguard British Columbians' health information seriously, and that is why a comprehensive investigation of electronic records was undertaken, including computer databases, storage devices and email records going back several years. I remain very concerned that rules were not followed in these specific instances."

The B.C. Information and Privacy Commissioner Elizabeth Denham has said her office's investigation into the matter will be complete in the coming weeks.