Negotiations underway with Luxembourg-headquartered company: premier<\/p>\n
Published Feb 07, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 22\u00a0hours ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 5 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n The Holt government isn\u2019t renewing its contract with eVisitNB this spring following a comprehensive review of virtual health-care services.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the e-Edition, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalism and the next generation of journalists.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the e-Edition, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalism and the next generation of journalists.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to keep reading.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite journalists.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authors<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Dr. Hanif Chatur, co-founder and CEO of eVisitNB, told Brunswick News Sunday that he learned the news last week after the conclusion of a request-for-proposal process.<\/p>\n Chatur isn\u2019t sure why the provincial government decided against renewing its contract with eVisitNB \u2013 a New Brunswick-based virtual health-care startup \u2013 and instead opted for another company through an RFP process.<\/p>\n A contract has yet to be signed with the successful bidder, the province confirmed to Brunswick News on Friday, but the government has said that \u201cNew Brunswickers can trust there will continue to be a virtual care option available to them.\u201d<\/p>\n In a social media post Sunday afternoon, Premier Susan Holt stated that negotiations have started with Foundever, a Luxembourg-headquartered company. The brand was created in 2023 after Florida-based Sitel Group acquired its Florida-based competitor, Sykes Enterprises Inc., in 2021.<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n When asked by a member of the public why a decision was made to not go with a New Brunswick-based company, Holt said, \u201cWe don\u2019t take this lightly, as I would want to see NB companies thrive in GNB procurement. I am still looking at this one and asking questions.\u201d<\/p>\n Since news broke Friday of the looming change, Chatur told Brunswick News Sunday that his inbox has been flooded with messages from concerned eVisitNB patients.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m deeply worried about these people. They are my patients and they\u2019re pretty upset, so I\u2019m trying to reassure them,\u201d Chatur said in an interview.<\/p>\n eVisitNB is continuing to serve its patients through to the end of its contract on March 31, according to Chatur, who is an emergency room doctor at Upper River Valley Hospital in Waterville.<\/p>\n Chatur said his team is ready to facilitate a smooth transition to the new service provider, but he can\u2019t promise eVisitNB patients that \u201cwhatever\u2019s coming in April will be what we have here today.\u201d<\/p>\n Morning Email Telegraph-Journal<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m getting texts and calls,\u201d Chatur said. \u201cA 91-year-old emailed me and said, \u2018What am I going to do?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n About 55 per cent of eVisitNB\u2019s daily users don\u2019t have a family doctor, Chatur said, noting eVisitNB sees an average of 750 to 1,000 people daily.<\/p>\n More than one million consultations have been provided to 325,000 New Brunswick patients over the last four years, according to eVisitNB, which operates with a team of more than 165 nurse practitioners from New Brunswick and from across Canada.<\/p>\n The virtual care service was first launched in January 2020 as an out-of-pocket health-care option, but since January 2022, through a government contract, New Brunswickers have been able to use the eVisitNB service free of charge by presenting their Medicare cards.<\/p>\n More than 127,000 people were on New Brunswick\u2019s waitlist for a primary care provider as of Jan. 1, but the number of unattached patients is actually believed to be much higher when those who aren\u2019t signed up on the waitlist are factored into the equation.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Founded by Chatur and Stanley-based family doctor Jonathan Clayton, eVisitNB won the 2024 Public Sector Award for Innovation. The annual InnovateNB award \u201crecognizes the adoption of an innovative solution for the delivery of a service offered to the public.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy job now is to finish the contract and have a conversation with whoever\u2019s taking this over,\u201d Chatur said of the future of eVisitNB. \u201cThis is not easy. It took five years to figure out how to do this and even then it\u2019s a work in progress.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat we\u2019ve done is not easy, it\u2019s not simple.\u201d<\/p>\n Parties disagree over resolution of language issues<\/p>\n New Brunswick\u2019s health department wouldn\u2019t confirm Friday the identity of the successful RFP bidder or provide details of the new agreement.<\/p>\n \u201cThe vendor selected has over 28 years of experience serving New Brunswickers in both official languages 24\/7,\u201d government spokesperson Sarah Bustard said in an email.<\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cMore details will be available once the new agreement is signed and operationalized, but New Brunswickers can trust there will continue to be a virtual care option available to them.\u201d<\/p>\n On Saturday morning, Progressive Conservative MLA Bill Hogan issued a statement, urging the Holt government to \u201cstop, reconsider and choose New Brunswick.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSusan Holt says she is all for New Brunswick companies. She says the health care of New Brunswickers is her number one concern. Once again, what she says and what she does are completely opposite,\u201d said Hogan, PC health critic and MLA for Woodstock-Hartland.<\/p>\n Holt later weighed in Saturday after Hogan shared his statement on Facebook.<\/p>\n \u201cWe put out a competitive tender for comprehensive virtual care services,\u201d Holt wrote in a Facebook post. \u201cEleven companies responded. They were evaluated, compared and shortlisted. U.S.-headquartered companies were weeded out.<\/p>\n Advertisement 7<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cWe are now negotiating with the bidder that put forward the solution that best met what NBers are asking us for. It is a bidder that NB has been working with for 28 years.\u201d<\/p>\n Holt added that the RFP process didn\u2019t result in a \u201cbidding war.\u201d<\/p>\n New Brunswick\u2019s health department noted that it undertook its comprehensive review \u201cto ensure we could continue to provide virtual care to New Brunswickers in both official languages.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Dr.](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0209-lb-evisit-contract-2.jpg\")
Dr. Hanif Chatur, co-founder and CEO of eVisitNB, along with chief operating officer Amy McLeod, accept the 2024 Public Sector Award for Innovation from Premier Susan Holt at the annual InnovateNB Awards. eVisitNB won the annual award designed to recognize ‘the adoption of an innovative solution for the delivery of a service offered to the public.’ SUBMITTEDArticle content<\/p>\n![\"Telegraph-Journal\"](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.5.3\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-tj.svg\"){kind=logo}
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