New virtual care option planned, says N.B. health minister

New Brunswick’s Health Minister is responding to concerns over recently announced changes to virtual healthcare.

The eVisitNB contract with the provincial government won’t be renewed, and services will end on March 31.

In a statement, John Dornan reassures users that a new service will be in place by April 1, ensuring there is no interruption.

“The selected vendor has strong Canadian roots, all patient records will be securely stored in Canada, and the company brings more than 28 years of experience serving New Brunswickers in both official languages, with 150 employees here in the province,” Dornan explained.

Reports have said a new provider is one based in Europe, with headquarters in the U.S.

“The Department of Health conducted a comprehensive review, analyzed more than 500,000 appointments, and engaged 19 national and international vendors through a request for information. That work led to a competitive request-for-proposals process, inviting vendors to demonstrate how they would deliver high-quality, integrated and patient-focused care,” Dornan said.

He added in a statement that contract negotiations are underway.