Telemedicine in Canada 2025: Growth, Risks & What Every Patient Should Know

Telemedicine in Canada has grown fast. Learn what’s new in regulation, what costs you might face, how to choose a provider, and what virtual care can actually do in 2025.

Introduction

Imagine you live in a remote Northern community in Canada. It’s winter, the roads are snowed over, and your family doctor’s office is a two-hour drive away. You wake up one morning feeling unwell, but instead of braving the journey, you log on via a video call with a physician. They review your symptoms, prescribe medicine, and advise a follow-up. All from home.

That kind of virtual doctor visit is no longer exceptional. Telemedicine—or virtual care—is steadily becoming part of everyday health care in Canada. As of 2025, we can see real growth, evolving rules, advantages and drawbacks, and ways patients can make the most of it.

This article will cover how telemedicine is growing in Canada (with recent data), where regulation stands provincially and federally, pros and cons from a patient’s perspective, tips for selecting and preparing for virtual clinics, how clinics are adapting, and what to expect going forward. By the end, you’ll feel confident navigating virtual care—what to trust, what to watch out for, and how to get the best out of it.

What Is Telemedicine / Virtual Care?

Before diving into numbers and rules, let’s be clear on what we mean.

• Telemedicine / Virtual Care refers to delivering medical services through electronic communication, rather than in-person visits. That might include video calls, phone calls, messaging, or even remote monitoring of health metrics.
• Modalities (types) frequently used in Canada:
  1. Video visits, where the patient and provider see each other online.
  2. Telephone consults, often used when video is impractical.
  3. Text or chat-based services (secure messaging).
  4. Remote patient monitoring, using devices / wearables that transmit health data.
  5. “Store-and-forward”, where data (images, test results) are collected, sent, and reviewed later.

There are also differences in how virtual services are offered:

• Public vs Private Clinics: Many virtual doctor visits are part of provincial or territorial health insurance plans; others are through private providers or “walk-in-virtually” clinics that charge fees.
• Hybrid models: Some providers mix in-person appointments and virtual, depending on patient needs.

Understanding these distinctions helps when you consider access, cost, and quality.

Growth & Usage Statistics in Canada (2024–25)

Canada’s telemedicine use is growing fast. Here are the most up-to-date numbers and trends.

Market Size & Forecast

This means the telemedicine market in Canada is expected to more than triple in revenue over the next few years. The “services” side of virtual care (actual remote doctor visits, consultations, remote monitoring) is growing especially quickly.

Adoption & Use by Patients & Provinces

• After the peak of COVID-19, many provinces scaled back virtual billing codes or reduced fees for virtual visits. For example, Ontario reduced its fee for many virtual visits.
• Still, a sizable portion of Canadians report having accessed physician services virtually. The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) tracks such use; their reports show virtual care remains an active part of the health system.
• Access is uneven: rural and remote regions, Indigenous communities, and people without reliable internet or devices are less likely to consistently use video-based services. These access gaps are being acknowledged in policy discussions.

Trends Since the Peak of the Pandemic

• Before COVID-19, fewer than 3 % of ambulatory medical visits were virtual. At the height, in many places that rose dramatically to over 70 %.
• Post-pandemic, many provinces have modified their virtual care policies: some have reduced compensation for providers for virtual visits, some have limited which virtual care is reimbursed under public insurance.

Regulatory Landscape: Laws, Policies & Standards

Virtual care in Canada is regulated at both federal and provincial/territorial levels. The rules differ by province, and they affect who can offer virtual care, under what conditions, and what costs might apply to patients.

Canada Health Act & the Canada Health Act Services Policy

• The Canada Health Act (CHA) sets out how provinces get federal funding for assured health services. One of its principles is that “medically necessary” health services must be covered without direct charges to patients.
• A new CHA Services Policy, coming into effect on April 1, 2026, aims to ensure that medically necessary virtual care services are treated similarly: provinces won’t be able to allow patient charges for virtual services that would be covered if delivered in person. This includes employer-sponsored virtual care or private virtual-clinic fees that replicate public coverage.
• The federal government has also issued a letter to provinces and territories in early 2025 emphasizing that no one should be billed for medically necessary care if that same service would be insured when done face-to-face.

Provincial Differences: Licensure, Coverage, and Billing

Each province has its own rules for virtual care: how providers are licensed, what virtual modalities are reimbursed (video, phone, messaging), and whether private clinics can charge.

Here are some examples:

Licensing, Privacy, and Medical Standards

• Doctors must be licensed in the province/territory where the patient is located. If a provider in one province delivers care to someone in another, that provider may need to meet cross-provincial regulation requirements.
• Privacy laws: Federal law (PIPEDA) applies for many private clinics. Provincial health information acts or equivalents (e.g. Ontario’s PHIPA, Alberta’s HIA) govern how patient data is stored and used. Any virtual care platform must comply with relevant privacy/security standards.
• Medical liability: Providers are bound by the same standard of care virtually as in person; there are medico-legal guidelines around virtual prescribing, follow-up, and patient safety. Tools like those from CMPA (Canadian Medical Protective Association) help clarify what is expected.

Growth & Usage: More Trends & Provincial Breakdowns

Continuing from earlier, here are more detailed insights into who is using virtual care in Canada, how, and where.

Access & Usage by Patients

• According to recent research, about 17% of Canadian adults (≈ 5.4 million people) report they do not have regular access to primary care. Virtual care has been proposed as one way to reduce that gap.
• Many patients express that they prefer a mix: in person for certain needs, virtual for others. In a survey, patients said they’d like 40% of GP care virtually by phone, 9% by video, and 10% by text, with the remainder in-person.
• Providers, however, indicate the actual delivered mix differs: phone remains dominant, video and messaging are underused relative to what both patients and clinicians say is clinically appropriate.

Differences by Region & Population

• Rural / Remote & Indigenous Communities: Individuals in these areas face greater barriers: less reliable broadband, fewer local providers, and sometimes fewer options for video visits. These gaps are increasingly acknowledged in policy but remain difficult to close.
• Those Without Regular Providers: Provinces like Newfoundland & Labrador, PEI, New Brunswick have expanded virtual primary care for people who don’t have family doctors. This helps to lower barriers for access.
• After-Hours and Urgent Care: Virtual urgent care services (for non-life-threatening issues) are becoming more common. Some provinces reimburse virtual urgent care; some private providers fill in gaps where public access is limited.

Pros & Cons: What Works, What Doesn’t

Virtual care brings many benefits—but also real challenges. Knowing both can help you decide when virtual medicine makes sense, and when it doesn’t.

Advantages of Telemedicine in Canada

• Better access, especially in remote areas
  Canadians in rural, Northern, or remote communities often face long travel times, bad weather, or limited local specialists. Virtual doctor visits help bridge that gap.
• Convenience and time savings
  No commuting, waiting rooms, or taking off work — many patients value the flexibility. For minor concerns or follow-ups, virtual care often lets people get help faster.
• Cost savings (for patients and system)
  Less travel, fewer missed work hours, lower facility overheads. Some studies suggest broad use of teleconsultations could save the health system and patients millions of dollars annually. (RAND Europe)
• Reduced exposure risk & improved safety (in certain cases)
  In pandemics or during outbreaks (or if someone is immunocompromised), virtual visits reduce risk of infection from clinics or hospitals.
• Mental health and chronic care management
  Regular check-ins via phone or video help for chronic disease follow-ups, mental health support, or medication adjustments. Remote monitoring can help catch problems early.

Risks & Disadvantages of Virtual Care

• Quality and diagnostic limitations
  Some medical issues need physical examination. Things like skin texture, subtle symptoms, or tests can’t always be done virtually.
• Privacy, security, and data concerns
  Health information is sensitive. Virtual platforms must meet privacy regulations. If they don’t, there’s risk of breaches. Provinces vary in how strict laws are and how they enforce security standards.
• Technology access & digital literacy
  If you don’t have a fast internet connection, a reliable device, or aren’t comfortable with tech, virtual care can be frustrating or even inaccessible.
• Equity issues
  Some groups are at a disadvantage: Indigenous communities, low-income people, older adults, or recent immigrants. They may lack infrastructure or face cultural or language barriers.
• Potential overuse or misuse
  There’s risk of virtual care being used when an in-person visit would be safer or more effective; overbooking, unnecessary follow-ups, or fragmented care if records aren’t shared well.

Practical Tips for Patients: How to Choose & Prepare

To get the most out of virtual medicine growth in Canada, here are steps you can take as a patient. These help ensure you get safe, effective care, and avoid pitfalls.

Choosing a Good Virtual Clinic or Provider

1. Check licensing and credentials
   Make sure the doctor or provider is registered/licensed in your province. Providers offering services across provincial borders should comply with relevant licensing rules.
2. Understand coverage and fees
   Find out what your provincial health plan covers (video vs phone visits). Ask whether you’ll need to pay privately or whether the clinic is publicly funded.
3. Review privacy and security policies
   Look for clinics using platforms that secure health data, preferably with end-to-end encryption. See where patient data is stored. For example, some platforms used in BC must adhere to strict privacy laws under PIPA or FIPPA. (Harper Grey BC)
4. Read reviews or ask for references
   Feedback from other patients can help you assess whether virtual visits feel thorough, responsive, and respectful.

Preparing for a Virtual Visit

• Ensure your internet connection is stable; test video and audio before the appointment.
• Choose a quiet, private space to talk. Minimizing background noise helps communication.
• Have your health history, medications, and any recent test results ready. Virtual doctors can’t always access your in-person records.
• Know what to expect: some visits may not lead to prescriptions or diagnoses; providers may refer you for in-person follow-ups.

What to Ask / Red Flags

Red flags include: clinics that don’t disclose provider licensing, that don’t have a privacy policy, that require pre-payment without clarity, or that offer virtual care even when serious diagnosis is needed (with no referral option).

How Clinics & Providers Are Adapting

Virtual care isn’t static—it’s evolving. Clinics, regulatory bodies, and tech firms are shifting to meet patient needs and overcome limitations.

Remote Patient Monitoring & Digital Tools

One of the biggest shifts lately is toward remote patient monitoring (RPM). This means patients use devices or sensors at home (for example to track blood pressure, glucose, heart rate) that transmit data to providers. This helps with chronic disease management and can catch issues before they escalate.  Canada Health Infoway has been pushing RPM as part of its virtual care initiatives.

Health authorities have also published white papers on using RPM in provinces. For example, in British Columbia, remote monitoring is included in virtual care expansion plans.

Infrastructure & Connectivity Improvements

Telemedicine growth depends heavily on reliable internet and digital infrastructure. Canada is making moves here:

• The federal government aims for 98% high-speed Internet access by 2026, and 100% by 2030.
• In remote communities, satellite internet is being introduced to ensure connectivity. For example, several remote British Columbia communities have received satellite broadband to enable virtual health services.
• Platforms are being standardized; some provinces are consolidating multiple virtual care tools into fewer, more interoperable systems. This helps reduce confusion for patients and providers.

Hybrid & Multi-Modality Models

Clinics are combining in-person and virtual care:

• Follow-ups that don’t require physical examination are shifting to virtual.
• Initial consultations might be virtual, with in-person follow-ups when needed (for example, for physical assessments, lab work, or imaging).
• For mental health, ongoing care often uses video or phone, while crisis interventions remain in person.

These hybrid models try to balance access, patient preference, and safety.

What to Expect Going Forward (Near Future Developments)

As telemedicine growth in Canada accelerates, several trends and changes are emerging that patients should watch out for.

Policy & Regulatory Evolution

• The pan-Canadian virtual care policy framework continues to take shape, with federal, provincial, and territorial bodies working together to standardize many aspects—licensing, ensuring equity, data standardization.
• Increased regulation around private virtual clinics is likely: requiring clearer disclosure of provider credentials, transparent fees, adherence to privacy law, and defining what “medically necessary” virtual services are.

Technology & Innovation

• More RPM and connected devices, including wearables, will become part of standard care. As data from these devices become more trusted and better integrated into health records, clinicians can monitor chronic conditions more proactively.
• Tele-ultrasound and other remote diagnostic tools: there’s early research and pilot projects (for instance long-distance mixed-reality ultrasound) that suggest even imaging may become more accessible remotely in certain contexts.
• AI and decision-support tools could assist virtual clinics in flagging when in-person care is needed, improving triage, helping interpret data, or ensuring safety.

Addressing Access & Equity Gaps

• Bridging the digital divide remains a priority. That includes investment in broadband, affordable home internet, better devices, and training for patients. Provinces and territories are increasingly aware of how lack of access amplifies inequalities.
• Programs for Indigenous communities or very remote regions may get more support. Some satellite internet implementations and remote monitoring programs are already in motion in these areas.

Sustainability & Funding Models

• Expect more discussion about how virtual care fits into health budgets. Which services are fully funded publicly? When will private virtual clinics be allowed or regulated?
• Fee schedules (how much providers are reimbursed for video vs phone vs messaging) will be under review in many provinces. Ensuring providers are compensated fairly is key to keeping high-quality virtual care options available.

Conclusion

Telemedicine in Canada in 2025 is no longer just a convenience—it’s an established part of how many people get care. Growth continues, regulations are maturing, hybrid models are forming, and patients have more choices than ever in virtual visits.

That said, virtual care isn’t perfect. Differences in provincial coverage, licensing rules, and technology access mean that not everyone experiences the same quality. For many, virtual visits are great for follow-ups, consults, or minor issues; but complex or urgent care often still requires in-person treatment.

As a patient, you have power: ask questions, check credentials, understand coverage, and prepare well for virtual visits. Doing those things helps you get safe, high-quality care, and means you’ll benefit from all that telemedicine growth across Canada promises.

FAQ