Charlene Paquin, Manitoba's ombudsman, has charged a former employee with Manitoba Health, Healthy Living and Seniors with "snooping" on personal patient records. The employee worked with the Provincial Drug Program, said a news release.

The charge stems from a 2014 investigation into allegations the personal health information of 13 people was allegedly accessed by the former employee.

The ombudsman alleges the employee accessed the patients' personal health information at work and used the information for purposes "unrelated to their work."

The maximum penalty for the offence is $50,000. The charge was laid under the Personal Health Information Act.

"Abusing that trust by intentionally violating the privacy of Manitobans is an egregious matter that has serious consequences," Paquin said.

This is not the first time allegations have been made against employees with access to health records in Manitoba.

The Personal Health Information Act was amended in December 2013 after another employee gained access to patient information.

The amendment made it an offence for an employee to willfully use, gain access to or attempt to gain access to another person's personal health information. This is the first charge of its kind to be laid since the act was amended.