Donald Trump’s bluster has Canada’s health-care system, already embroiled in a primary care crisis, at yet another crossroads. Our heavy reliance on American medical technology has left us vulnerable – economically, technologically and medically.
As the U.S. Canada trade tensions rise, potential tariffs could drive up software costs, putting patient care at risk. Now more than ever, Canada must invest in local technology to safeguard our health-care future.
Few Canadians are aware of just how reliant our health-care system is on American technology. Most hospital workflows rely on three dominant U.S.-based electronic medical records (EMR) providers: Epic, Cerner and Meditech, with Epic being the most dominant. While these companies supply essential infrastructure, their systems are primarily designed for the for-profit U.S. market, raising concerns about how well they serve our non-profit hospital sector. Effective integration of new digital solutions is vital for patient care, but major EMR providers often restrict access, citing stability and data risks, limiting opportunities for new technology and improvement. As a result, local innovation is stifled and Canadian hospitals remain locked into costly, outdated systems that may not fully meet their needs.
If trade tensions escalate and tariffs are imposed on software services, Canadian hospitals could face soaring costs with no domestic alternatives. This isn’t just speculation – when U.S. tariffs were placed on medical devices like pacemakers and insulin pumps, costs surged for Canadian health-care providers, directly impacting patient access and care. The potential for similar disruptions in software services is high.
Even more concerning, U.S. companies often block Canadian startups from integrating with their systems. This dependency hinders the development of solutions tailored to Canada’s needs, as American systems prioritize revenue maximization over efficiency. As a result, Canadian hospitals pay for features they don’t need while missing out on innovations that could enhance patient care.
Using foreign-owned EMR systems means sensitive patient data may be stored – or accessible – from outside Canada.
This dependence also raises data sovereignty and cybersecurity concerns. Using foreign-owned EMR systems means sensitive patient data may be stored – or accessible – from outside Canada, raising questions about who controls this information. In a worst-case scenario, geopolitical tensions could disrupt service, compromise patient confidentiality and threaten the security of our health-care system.
Imagine a Canadian hospital forced to cut essential services due to rising software fees. This isn’t just about economics – it’s about patient care, wait times and, ultimately, lives. We must address this with the same urgency as we did during the COVID-19 pandemic, which showed that systemic change is possible when necessity demands it. But reacting to crises isn’t enough. We must be proactive in supporting local innovation before another disruption forces our hand.
Canada has the talent and infrastructure to lead in health tech innovation. Our universities produce world-class engineers and the government invests heavily in research and development. Yet even our own systemic barriers prevent local startups from scaling. One major obstacle is procurement. Canada’s fragmented provincial health-care system makes adopting new technology slow and bureaucratic. Many startups can’t move beyond pilot programs, forcing them to relocate to the U.S. to grow, taking their innovations with them.
To break free from this cycle, Canada needs a strategic plan. This starts with government-led investment in health tech startups, offering grants, tax incentives and venture capital partnerships focused on building and expanding EMR systems tailored to Canada’s needs. Additionally, streamlined procurement processes are essential. A national framework could standardize technology evaluation, making it easier for local startups to achieve widespread adoption.
Collaboration is key. By fostering partnerships between the government, private sector and academia, Canada can leverage local talent to create solutions that meet real-world health-care needs. Investing in Canadian-owned EMR systems would also enhance data sovereignty, ensuring that patient data remains under Canadian control.
The consequences of inaction are too significant to ignore. This is our opportunity to secure our health-care future. We cannot afford to waste it.
All these points are valid concerns. It is time for a change as the federal ‘leadership’ over the last decade has left Canada in a malaise. Business, resource, and healthcare segment stagnation and low productivity has impacted the younger generation the most (the boomers have their nest rather feathered).