Royal College applauds federal government investment in virtual care
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada supports the federal government’s recent investment of $240.5 million to enable the delivery of virtual care services for Canadians.
We encourage the federal government to leverage these investments to increase all aspects of health care, including specialty care, during these unprecedented times.
While in-person encounters will continue to be necessary for some patients, including those who need to undergo highly specialized treatments and procedures, much can be done to bring specialized care closer to home. Virtual services also support access to and improved connections between health care professionals, allowing for virtual consult and referral.
Earlier this year, the Royal College, together with partners the Canadian Medical Association and the College of Family Physicians of Canada, outlined 19 key recommendations to enable and expand the implementation of virtual care, including:
- national standards for patient health information access;
- increased support to regulatory bodies to simplify physician registration and licensure processes to allow physicians to provide virtual care across provincial and territorial boundaries;
- a framework to regulate the safety and quality of virtual care services;
- provincial and territorial governments, in collaboration with key associations, to develop new fee schedules for in-person and virtual care that are revenue neutral; and
- the establishment and incorporation of virtual care education at medical schools and continuing education for health professionals.
We look forward to seeing the new digital tools and resources that will become available to Canadians due to this investment.
Dr. Susan Moffatt-Bruce
CEO, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
