PEIDoctor Private Doctor Service for Islanders and Visitors Under Government Review The private-pay doctor service PEIDoctor.com has drawn criticism from the P.E.I. premier and come under government review, despite plans to expand and offer medical care to visitors. NORTH RUSTICO, P.E. I. - The private-pay doctor service PEIDoctor.com has become a topic of controversy on Prince Edward Island after Premier Rob Lantz directed the health department to find a way to stop the business, citing concerns about access to health care on the Island. PEIDoctor.com co-ordinates virtual, in-clinic and concierge physician appointments for international visitors, as well as eligible patients from Quebec who are willing to pay out of pocket. The business has prompted pushback over access to healthcare on the island, with Premier Rob Lantz calling for a review. The service is cheaper than buying travel insurance, which can be very expensive, according to the Wilsons.PEIDoctor.com Plans Expansion Despite ControversyOn the company's website, a standard daytime virtual consultation costs $229, while having a physician visit a hotel, cottage or resort outside Charlottetown starts at $899. Despite the pushback, PEIDoctor.com's CEO Marius Croeser says the company is planning to expand and hopes to grow its team to four or five physicians next year, with the goal of coordinating approximately 2,000 consultations, complemented by nursing support.Croeser agrees that the private business could draw doctors away from the public system, saying that salaried doctors on the Island typically have their working hours restricted, leaving some to take on additional work for private companies offering services such as telehealth in other provinces. The Wilsons are among the visitors who used the service. They paid about $1,000 for medical care during their latest summer stay on P.E.I. Dede Wilson, an 81-year-old British national, was unwell during their stay and had to pay out of pocket for care at P.E. I.'s public hospitals. An emergency room visit currently comes with a $1,088 price tag, plus physician fees. The tourism industry is a major economic driver on P.E.Tourism Industry Drives Island EconomyI., with visitors spending hundreds of millions of dollars each year. The island welcomed about 1.87 million non-resident visitors in 2025, a 10 per cent increase over the previous year. Among them are people from abroad like the Wilsons, who know firsthand what it's like to need a doctor while away from home.However, visitors have to pay out of pocket for care at P.E. I.'s public hospitals, which can be expensive. Dede said that visitors need to know they can get medical care if they need it. Despite the challenges, the Wilsons say it's hard to see how PEIDoctor could be putting the public health system at risk.With the review underway, it remains to be seen how PEIDoctor.com will continue to operate and whether it will be able to meet the needs of both visitors and Island residents. PEIDoctor says it helps visitors who aren't covered by the province arrange and pay for their own medical care. Instead of using tax funds, the private service helps visitors cover their own medical expenses. That's just not fair, according to Marius Croeser.Out-of-Pocket Costs Challenge VisitorsP.E. I. is coming off another record-breaking tourism season, welcoming about 1.87 million non-resident visitors in 2025, a 10 per cent increase over the previous year. The tourism industry is a major economic driver, with visitors spending hundreds of millions of dollars each year at hotels, restaurants and golf courses. With visitors paying out of pocket and needing medical care, the service aims to provide access to medical care for visitors who aren't covered by the province.The service provides access to medical care through virtual, in-clinic and concierge physician appointments. It's cheaper and provides flexibility for visitors who may not have time to see a doctor in person. A standard daytime virtual consultation costs $229, while having a physician visit a hotel, cottage or resort outside Charlottetown starts at $899. PEIDoctor says it provides a solution for visitors who need medical care while away from home.While the service aims to provide convenience, others see it as a threat to the public healthcare system. Premier Rob Lantz directed the health department to review the service and determine whether it meets the province's expectations of the healthcare system. The review of the service hasn't deterred PEIDoctor's plans to expand. The company aims to grow its team to four or five physicians next year and continue to co-ordinate approximately 2,000 consultations, complemented by nursing support.Private Sector Attracts Physician TalentHowever, the private business may also draw doctors away from the public system, according to Croeser. Croeser said that the public system simply cannot compete with the private sector in terms of the opportunities and financial benefits available. He believes that PEIDoctor helps to attract and retain physicians by capitalizing on additional opportunities that the public system cannot offer. P.E.I.'s tourism industry relies heavily on visitors who spend hundreds of millions of dollars each year. However, visitors have to pay out of pocket for care at P.E. I.'s public hospitals, which can be expensive. PEIDoctor aims to provide access to medical care for visitors who aren't covered by the province, making it a more attractive option.