The megaproject to digitize the medical records of Quebecers is experiencing a first pitfall, Le Journal de Quebec reports (link in French). The Center for Government Acquisitions (CAG) of the Canadian province canceled its call for tender that had been announced earlier this year, and will have to restart the process. The cancellation was announced, when the period for submitting a project was already over.
“Following the posting of call for tenders 2022-7874-14, which took place from May 18 to September 26, 2022, the Center d’acquisitions governmentales (CAG) and the Ministry of Health (MSSS) agreed to cancel the call for tenders and proceed with a republication which will be done very soon”, explains a representative of the Ministry of Health (MSSS). Quebec authorities did not explain the reasons for this return to the drawing board.
The project ‘Digital Health Record’ aims to digitize all medical records so that they are accessible online for both health professionals and patients. To achieve this, the future system will have to replace “several hundred information systems”.
“Ultimately, this project will profoundly transform the technological architecture of the network, the work of clinicians and the patient experience. This is a large-scale project that must be done properly to ensure that Quebec is provided with the best possible solutions, under the best deployment conditions,” writes the MSSS.
The call for tenders concerned two showcase projects in the CIUSSSs of Mauricie–Centre-du-Québec and Nord-de-l’Île-de-Montréal. If these are a success, the project will then be extended to the entire territory of Quebec. This is a flagship project of the “Health Plan” launched last spring by Christian Dubé, the Health Minister of Quebec.