Provinces Urged to Exercise Caution in Virtual Care Partnerships

Provincial governments in Canada are being advised to proceed carefully when forming partnerships with for-profit virtual health care companies. An analysis published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal underscores the importance of maintaining public trust in the health care system amid these collaborations. Four provinces have already engaged with corporate virtual care organizations to address ongoing challenges in accessing primary care, providing medical services through video consultations, phone calls, and text messaging.

Dr. Lauren Lapointe-Shaw, a clinician-scientist and associate professor at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and the Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto, co-authored the article highlighting the potential risks of these partnerships. She emphasizes that direct-to-consumer virtual “walk-in” care poses significant concerns related to accessibility, quality of care, and data privacy.

Risks and Responsibilities in Virtual Care

The authors of the analysis detail the varying approaches taken by different provinces in their partnerships with corporate virtual care providers. While these corporate relationships offer benefits, they also bring about inherent risks that government officials must carefully evaluate. Chief among these is the imperative to uphold health care quality standards, safeguard patient data privacy, and ensure transparency regarding contracts, funding, and profit-sharing.

Dr. Lapointe-Shaw and her colleagues caution against an uncritical embrace of corporate entities within the public health care framework. They assert that introducing these programs could lead to entrenched corporate interests that may be challenging to modify or regulate later. “Once these programs are established, changing them may prove difficult,” they note.

Furthermore, the analysis points out the potential pitfalls of allowing corporations to self-regulate within the health care sector. The authors argue that without robust oversight, the quality of care and patient safety could be compromised, and necessary changes may not take place.

Calls for Caution

The article concludes with a strong message regarding the need for caution in permitting corporate involvement in public health care. The authors advocate for a thorough assessment of the implications of these partnerships to ensure that they serve the best interests of the public. They highlight the importance of maintaining ethical standards and protecting the integrity of the health care system.

The findings from the Canadian Medical Association Journal serve as a timely reminder for policymakers to prioritize public health and safety in their decisions regarding virtual care partnerships. As the landscape of health care continues to evolve, the focus must remain on delivering quality care that meets the needs of all Canadians while safeguarding their trust in the system.

For further details, refer to the article titled “Government partnerships with corporate virtual primary care” published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal in 2025. The DOI for the article is 10.1503/cmaj.250639.