Evidence of meeting #33 for Health in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was program.
A recording is available from Parliament.
President, Telus Health
I don't have the answer to that question. We provided it to them with a recommendation—
Conservative
Helena Konanz Conservative Similkameen—South Okanagan—West Kootenay, BC
Do you know if they made any changes, yes or no?
President, Telus Health
It would come through some of the change orders, but not all of the recommendations would have come back to us.
Liberal
Liberal
Doug Eyolfson Liberal Winnipeg West, MB
Thank you, Chair.
I'd like to thank all the witnesses for coming.
I just want to make sure I understand, Dr. Vaughan. Regarding this system, the purpose was one prescribing system that was compatible all across provinces because it was the same system.
Had there been a need expressed for this? Had there been direction from government or from other agencies saying that? Was it generally acknowledged that this was what we needed, so that in Canada people could have prescriptions that talk to each other across the provinces?
Board Chair, Canada Health Infoway
It's an excellent question.
With Canada being the only OECD country that doesn't have a national prescribing service, it was recognized at the time that—as you are well aware, I'm sure—patient safety medication error is one of the top reasons for patient problems. It was recognized that it was time that Canada adopted a national prescribing service.
Liberal
Doug Eyolfson Liberal Winnipeg West, MB
The lack of uptake from prescribers is attributed to the fact that, as per the experience in other countries, which gave incentives and mandates, the provinces did not do this. At what point were...? Were provinces and territories told that this was something they should do to increase uptake?
Board Chair, Canada Health Infoway
In many discussions with provinces and territories, at deputies' tables, at ministers' tables and at many other senior representatives' tables, the conversation around mandates and incentives was initiated, but we do not control the priorities of the provinces and territories.
Liberal
Doug Eyolfson Liberal Winnipeg West, MB
Had the provinces and territories given any reasons or rationale for not adopting these?
Board Chair, Canada Health Infoway
The provinces and territories, I think, are always reluctant to adopt federally initiated ideas. They're concerned about long-term sustainability, perhaps, but I'd be speculating.
Liberal
Doug Eyolfson Liberal Winnipeg West, MB
All right. Thank you.
Now, if the provinces and territories had agreed to do this, would it be fair to say that this program would be a success if the provinces had done what all these other nations that had directed that had done?
Liberal
Doug Eyolfson Liberal Winnipeg West, MB
Now, there has been advocacy to simply give each province the money to do it, so they can each develop their own system. What is the likelihood that, with 10 provinces and three territories independently funding their own programs, this would be compatible across all provinces? Does it sound likely that you'd have a compatible system among all the provinces and territories?
Board Chair, Canada Health Infoway
It is possible.
It is also like having no air traffic control across the country and every province and territory deciding what the air traffic control regulations and rules would be. If you were flying from Halifax to Ottawa, you'd have to land in every province and territory.
It's possible, but it is unlikely. The opportunity going forward is to use all the value that we have gained and to initiate the open standards, which still allows the exchange in a new way going forward.
Liberal
Doug Eyolfson Liberal Winnipeg West, MB
I don't know who would be the best to answer this, Dr. Vaughan or Dr. El-Demerdash.
Everyone talks about all the money that's gone into this program and says that this money has been wasted, but I understand that the product is still there and will still work if implemented. If any provinces or all provinces decided to start using this, would this work and be a success?
Dr. Vaughan can go first.
Board Chair, Canada Health Infoway
That is the case. It has been built. The highway analogy has been built, and if provinces and territories wish to populate that highway, absolutely it can be used.
That's the benefit of the open standards, frankly. Going forward, it's that they can customize their solutions to meet their particular needs and the workflow needs of their physicians and providers.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Sukh Dhaliwal
Thank you very much.
We will go to Dr. Strauss for five minutes.
Please go ahead, Dr. Strauss.
Conservative
Matt Strauss Conservative Kitchener South—Hespeler, ON
Thank you, Chair.
Through you, for Dr. Vaughan, some of the documents I've seen suggest that Canada Health Infoway has paid $2.5 million over three years to government relations firms, namely Sussex Strategy and Crestview Strategy. Canada Health Infoway, as a creature of government appointees, gave $2.5 million to get independent contractors to lobby government. Do I have that correct?
Board Chair, Canada Health Infoway
We do not lobby government, and there was no money spent for lobbying. Infoway does not lobby government.
Conservative
Matt Strauss Conservative Kitchener South—Hespeler, ON
Nobody's lobbying government with the $2.5 million.
Board Chair, Canada Health Infoway
If I could add to that, that communications firm has helped Infoway in its consultations with stakeholder groups across the country.
Conservative
Matt Strauss Conservative Kitchener South—Hespeler, ON
How much money does Canada Health Infoway expect to receive from the federal government with respect to the implementation of this open standards initiative as outlined in Bill S-5?
Board Chair, Canada Health Infoway
That is still up to the federal government. I do not have a figure for you.
Conservative
Board Chair, Canada Health Infoway
The board per diem rate is around $700, I believe.