Conservative Members of Parliament are demanding an investigation by the auditor general into the federal government’s handling of the PrescribeIT program. The $250-million initiative, slated to end next month, aimed to modernize prescription delivery but has faced significant criticism.

Program Discontinuation and Concerns

Launched in 2017, PrescribeIT was designed to replace outdated prescription methods like fax machines with a modern, electronic system. However, Canada Health Infoway, the organization overseeing the program, announced its cessation on May 29th, shifting towards an open-standards approach for electronic prescriptions.

Rising Costs and Low Adoption

Conservative health critic Dan Mazier criticized the program’s lack of visibility and effectiveness. He noted that fewer than five percent of prescriptions are currently being sent through PrescribeIT, despite the initial budget of $40 million escalating to over $300 million over the past decade.

Allegations of Obstruction

Mazier accused the government of obstructing access to documents related to PrescribeIT, suggesting a delay tactic until parliamentary committee restructuring. He warned that this could prevent the public from learning how the program was managed.

Intellectual Property Concerns

Concerns were also raised regarding the intellectual property associated with PrescribeIT. It was revealed that Telus Health was contracted to design the program, receiving $98 million, yet the government holds no intellectual property rights to the software.

Telus Health's Role

Ratcho Batchvarov, vice-president of provider solutions at Telus Health, explained that Telus already owned 85 percent of the intellectual property used in PrescribeIT. He also stated that the program’s maintenance and transfer would require Telus’s continued involvement.

Cross-Party Support for Audit

Bloc Québécois MP Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, vice-chair of the House of Commons health committee, echoed the call for an auditor general inquiry, criticizing the government’s IT contract management.

Government Response

The office of federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel defended the decision to end PrescribeIT, citing its low adoption rate and lack of financial sustainability. Guillaume Bertrand, Michel’s director of communications, stated that ending the program was a financially responsible decision to protect taxpayer dollars.