OTTAWA – Canada’s Infoway electronic health initiative has accomplished much in the past eight years but is falling short of the ambitious targets it set at the outset, says Auditor General Sheila Fraser.
And while computerized health records systems are being put in place, there is no guarantee yet that individual doctors will use them.
While its Ontario counterpart has been beset by scandal and controversy, Fraser’s audit team produced a fairly positive assessment of the federal effort. While contracting procedures could be beefed up, the organization had adequate controls over executive pay, travel, and hospitality spending.
In 2001, the federal government launched Infoway, an initiative to develop a system electronic health records to allow health care professionals to better share information and avoid duplicate tests or adverse drug reactions. Between 2001 and March 2009, Infoway had spent $614.9 million on the initiative and had committed another $614.2 million. The eventual cost of the program is estimated at more than $10 billion.
Infoway’s goal is for the electronic health records of 50% of Canadians to be available to their authorized health care professionals by 2010 and 100% by 2016.
However, Fraser told reporters that goal is in doubt.
“It will be difficult to achieve that objective.”
Fraser said six provincial auditors are examining provincial programs and will report separately on their findings.
Elizabeth.thompson@sunmedia.ca
