Conservatives Urge Audit of $250M PrescribeIT Program

In Ottawa, Conservative Members of Parliament are urging the auditor general to investigate the federal government's management of the $250 million PrescribeIT program, which is scheduled to end operations on May 29.

Launched in 2017, PrescribeIT aimed to modernize prescription transmission from doctors to pharmacies by replacing outdated methods like fax machines with digital tools. Despite the investment, the program has seen limited adoption, with fewer than five per cent of prescriptions processed through it, according to reporting cited by critics.

Conservative MP Dan Mazier, who raised the issue, said his party has been pushing parliamentary committees to obtain related documents. He accused the government of delaying these requests through filibustering tactics until committees can be restructured to align with the Liberals' new majority in the House of Commons, a change anticipated this week. "If that happens, the public may never see documents explaining the government's handling of PrescribeIT," Mazier said.

The call for an independent audit comes amid questions about the program's effectiveness and the decision to terminate it after nearly a decade. Officials have not...