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Infoway review says it should stop delivering digital health services
Canada Health Infoway says it should stop delivering digital services and focus on setting national standards for electronic health data.
The federally funded non-profit launched PrescribeIT in 2017 to send prescriptions electronically across Canada.
The program was shut down earlier this year, with less than 5 per cent of prescriptions going through it and nearly $300-million in federal funds spent.
The review says direct service delivery can bring major risks, while provinces and territories should be responsible for running services.
Conservative MP Dan Mazier criticized Infoway for reviewing its own work and said the process had a conflict of interest.
The federal government froze Infoway’s funding in June and says it has received no money for the 2026-27 fiscal year.
A third-party review is due by March 31, 2027, and the government says it will decide on future funding after that review is complete.
Canada Health Infoway’s internal review says it should stop delivering digital health services and focus on national standards and support.
The review followed the shutdown of PrescribeIT, a federally funded electronic prescription program that cost nearly $300-million.
Less than 5 per cent of prescriptions went through PrescribeIT before it closed, as doctors did not adopt it and pharmacists objected to user fees.
A Conservative MP criticized Infoway for reviewing its own performance, while the federal government is arranging separate reviews.
Infoway has received no federal funding for the 2026-27 fiscal year, and the government says it will decide on future funding after a third-party review.
- Who
- Canada Health Infoway, a federally funded non-profit, conducted the review.
- What
- Its review recommends that Infoway stop delivering digital health services and focus on national standards and support.
- When
- The review was released Friday, November 6, 2026.
- Where
- Canada.
- Why
- The review said direct service delivery can expose Infoway to significant implementation and adoption risk.
Canada Health Infoway
Conservative MP Dan Mazier
Infoway's future role
Canada Health Infoway
Infoway says it should focus on national standards, implementation support and market readiness rather than deliver digital services.
Conservative MP Dan Mazier
Mazier said the review failed to examine critically what Infoway did wrong.
Review process
Canada Health Infoway
Infoway conducted an internal review after Ottawa requested it.
Conservative MP Dan Mazier
Mazier called it a conflict of interest for Infoway to investigate itself.
Canada Health Infoway was founded.
Infoway launched PrescribeIT to enable doctors to send prescriptions electronically.
Infoway dismissed its long-time chief executive officer.
The federal health minister froze Infoway’s funding and ordered reviews after scrutiny of PrescribeIT at a House of Commons health committee.
Infoway shut down PrescribeIT.
Infoway released its 77-page internal review.
- PrescribeIT cost
- Nearly $300-million in federal funds
- PrescribeIT usage
- Less than 5 per cent of prescriptions went through the system before it closed
- Internal review
- 77 pages
- Stakeholders surveyed
- About 200 external stakeholders, as well as staff
- Infoway funding since 2001
- More than $2.6-billion
- 2026-27 funding
- Infoway has received no funding for the fiscal year
1 source
What people are saying
Infoway investigated Infoway and found that Infoway is innocent and deserves billions more tax dollars
The Liberals put the fox in charge of the henhouse by asking Infoway to investigate itself. It’s a complete conflict of interest and a slap in the face to the taxpayers.