Federal ‘axe the fax’ e-prescription service built with Telus Health to shutter after $250-million spent

Darn :(

Ottawa has cancelled PrescribeIT, a federal program built with Telus Health to replace the use of fax machines in sending prescriptions between doctors and pharmacists, after spending more than a quarter of a billion dollars on the initiative.

Canada Health Infoway, a government-funded non-profit, launched PrescribeIT in 2017 as part of “axe the fax” initiatives to replace the older technology with digital tools in health care settings. In this case, it provided a secure digital way to transmit prescriptions from doctors’ offices to pharmacies.

As of 2026, PrescribeIT is live in eight provinces and territories and being trialled in a ninth, Quebec. It has also seen thousands of pharmacies sign up, including major chains such as Loblaw Cos. Ltd.-owned Shoppers Drug Mart, Metro Ontario Inc. and Walmart Inc., and many hospitals, including Humber River Hospital and the Ottawa Hospital.

Despite the number of providers on board, use of the service has remained low. Less than 5 per cent of prescriptions are sent electronically in Canada each year, according to reports from Canada Health Infoway and Telus Health.

Canada Health Infoway began informing stakeholders in recent days that it was cancelling PrescribeIT. Two sources with knowledge of the program said it is expected to go offline mid-2026.

The Globe and Mail is not identifying the sources because they were not authorized to share the information.