New Brunswick’s decision to terminate its contract with the virtual-care provider eVisitNB has drawn sharp criticism from the company's chief operating officer, who says the government has downplayed the firm’s record of service.
Executive calls government's replacement 'flawed'
Amy McLeod, chief operating officer at eVisitNB, criticised the province’s move and said the “failings of the government's chosen virtual care replacement are obvious.” The company had provided virtual consultations to 365,000 patients over the past five years before being dropped by the provincial government, according to reporting on the dispute.
The changeover has raised questions about how virtual care will be maintained and what the disruption means for patients who relied on the service. The provincial government has not been quoted in the material provided here regarding its reasons for ending the contract or on how the replacement system will meet patient demand.
Impact on patients and services
Virtual care has been increasingly used to provide access to primary and follow-up care, particularly for patients in rural and remote communities. While the reporting identifies the scale of eVisitNB’s work — hundreds of thousands of consultations over several years — it does not provide details on transition plans, timelines or how patients will be informed of changes.
- Provider: eVisitNB
- Leadership comment: Amy McLeod, chief operating officer
- Patients served: 365,000 over five years
- Current status: Contract terminated by provincial government
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Patients served | 365,000 |
| Period covered | Five years |
Health-service changes of this scale typically prompt concerns among patients and clinicians about continuity of care, the stability of access to virtual appointments and how electronic health records and referral pathways will be maintained.
What to watch for next
Key developments to monitor include any official response from the provincial health minister’s office explaining the decision, details on the replacement service, and clear timelines for migration of patients and health records. Local health authorities and family-practice groups may also publish guidance for patients on where to seek virtual care during the transition.
“The failings of the government's chosen virtual care replacement are obvious.”
The reporting did not include further direct comment from the minister or the government. As this story develops, patients who relied on eVisitNB should look for announcements from the provincial health department or their local health centre about alternate access to virtual consultations.
InfoRadar will continue to follow official statements and any operational updates that affect access to virtual-care services across New Brunswick.
