Listen to this article
Estimated 3 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
The New Brunswick government is ending its agreement with Medavie Health Services New Brunswick, which saw the private company offer primary care services for people waiting for their own provider.
The province said in a news release that it would shift the service, N.B. Health Link, to the two regional health authorities, Horizon Health and Vitalité.
Health Minister John Dornan said in the release that the move would improve co-ordination within the health care system and strengthen oversight.
N.B. Health Link was created to allow New Brunswickers on the wait list for a primary care provider to get appointments with a doctor, nurse practitioner or nurse in a Medavie-run clinic.
The program has faced wait times of its own due to high demand.
In 2024-25, only 57 per cent of the people registered on the list had access to N.B. Health Link services, according to the annual report from EM/ANB Inc., a company controlled by the province that contracts Medavie Health Services New Brunswick for the service.
The province paid Medavie $10.3 million for the service that year, up from $6.2 million the year before, as well as $1 million for capital equipment.
Dornan said in the release that “too many New Brunswickers” were still waiting to be connected to primary care, though the statement didn’t provide an up-to-date number.
He was not available for an interview Thursday afternoon.
N.B. Health Link was created to allow New Brunswickers on the wait list for a primary care provider to get appointments with a doctor, nurse practitioner or nurse in a Medavie-run clinic. (Ed Hunter/CBC)
He said bringing the wait list under the health department would let the government “better understand where the needs are greatest and work hand-in-hand with our regional health authorities to attach more patients to the care they need.”
The announcement did not say whether the contract had been terminated or if there would be any additional costs to taxpayers for switching the service to the two health networks.
The press release said there would be “no change in process” for patients waiting for a provider, with those already getting care from the program continuing to have access to the same services during the transition.
The CEOs of both health authorities were quoted in the press release welcoming the change.
The wait list will shift to the provincial government by December and the transfer of N.B. Health Link to the health authorities will be complete by next March, the release said.
In 2024-25, almost 112,000 New Brunswickers were registered on the wait list.
Only 64,618 of them had access to N.B. Health Link, the report said.
Earlier this year, Dornan said the wait list had grown to more than 127,000 people.