Sask. issues RFP for vendors to provide virtual care services

A hospital bed can be seen in this file photo. (CTV News)

The Government of Saskatchewan has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for vendors to provide virtual healthcare for those who don’t have a regular family doctor or nurse practitioner.

Through the Virtual Care Pilot Project, which is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Health, eHealth, and the Saskatchewan Health Authority, patients will be provided with virtual access to licensed physicians and nurse practitioners through phone and video appointments from home.

As well, patients will be able to get medical advice, prescriptions, requisitions for lab work and diagnostic imaging, and referrals, until they are connected with a permanent provider.

“Every Saskatchewan resident deserves timely access to primary care,” Rural and Remote Health Minister Lori Carr said in a news release from the province on Friday. “This pilot will expand access to care for unattached patients while minimizing travel and wait times across the province.”

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The RFP is available through SaskTenders as of Tuesday and will stay open until July 27, 2026.

Three vendors will then be chosen to provide virtual care services to eligible patients in a selected part of the province beginning in the fall of 2026.

Following the pilot, the vendor with the strongest results may get the chance to enter into a long-term agreement to provide a virtual care solution in Saskatchewan.

“Expanding access to virtual care to more patients across the province is about putting patients first and ensuring the right care is available in the right place at the right time,” Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said in the release.

“With the technology and innovations available today, we can provide more convenient options for patients to interact with licensed healthcare professionals to receive care.”