Updates

In Canada, there have been efforts to expand primary care coverage by contracting out virtual care consultations to private (corporate) providers. This follows the broader shift to virtual consultations for primary health care during the COVID-19 pandemic (for example, adding new physician billing codes for virtual/telephone consultations). In British Columbia and Nova Scotia, these contracts address a shortage of primary care physicians in these provinces. There are a small number of private firms, namely Maple and Telus, providing the bulk of virtual care services. There are some concerns with this increasing role for private corporations in the delivery of care. For example, there is potential for contracted virtual care to reduce quality of care, particularly in terms of ensuring continuity of care on a longitudinal level. Also, there are concerns about the possible erosion of local primary care capacity if services are outsourced to private networks in other provinces. The contracts have been met with opposition by some professional bodies and advocacy organisations opposed to the corporatization of health care.