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Health

In question period on health, Conservatives pressed the government over PrescribeIT, an electronic prescription program that received $300 million through Canada Health Infoway and is being shut down. They said the money produced no results and asked the government to support an Auditor General investigation. Health Minister Marjorie Michel said the program, launched in 2017, was not being used and was supposed to become self-funded, so ending it saves taxpayers money. She also pointed to Bill S-5, the Connected Care for Canadians Act, as legislation that would help health information systems work together.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

3 statements

Marjorie Michel

Liberal
“The prescription drug program started in 2017 did not work as well as expected. We ended it instead of spending more money on something that was not getting results.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 46 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, as members know, the previous government launched the prescription drug program in 2017 following consultations with the provinces and territories, but it was not as successful as anticipated. Rather than continuing to invest in a program that is not delivering results, we decided to end it. The opposition member is well aware of that, and we are working closely with the department to get the information regarding PrescribeIT.

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Marjorie Michel

Liberal
“We stopped funding PrescribeIT because people were not using it and it was supposed to pay for itself. This saves taxpayers money.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 48 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, PrescribeIT was always intended to become self-funded over time. Rather than putting money toward a program that people were not using, the decision was made to end it. This is how we save taxpayers’ money.

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Marjorie Michel

Liberal
“I want the House to support our health care bill when it arrives. It will help parts of the health care system share information and work together.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 46 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I would say that the Ministry of Health is there to support Canadians. I will tell you that challenges like this highlight the need for our connected care for Canadians act, which would break down silos in the health care system. I invite you to support Bill S-5, which will be coming to the House very soon.

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