Two public sector employees looking at a tablet
Industry report

The future of virtual healthcare: Considerations for employers

Public sector edition

More than 90 per cent of Canadian employers agree their employees’ physical and mental health is a priority deserving of their support. This finding comes from a recent survey of plan sponsors—defined as employers that provide a health benefits package to their employees—across public and private sectors, demonstrating government organizations and crown corporations are among those employers taking employee wellbeing seriously.1

The workforce also views virtual healthcare as an imperative. Three-quarters of employees or plan members who have virtual care as part of their package say their benefits meet their needs. In contrast, only 52 per cent of employees without virtual care report the same level of satisfaction.2

Moreover, 68 per cent of those with access to virtual healthcare attest their workplace culture promotes wellbeing, compared to 39 per cent among those without virtual health benefits.3

Examining research collected by PMG Intelligence, Benefits Canada, and Canada Health Infoway over the past year, this report documents the trends transforming the virtual care landscape across the public sector for 2023—and what that could mean for the workplace.

This industry report looks at:

  • The value of virtual healthcare for the public sector
  • How virtual care can help support employee mental health
  • The growth potential of virtual pharmacies
  • Canadian trust in digital health privacy
  • How virtual care can promote a culture of wellbeing in the workplace

PMG Intelligence (April 18, 2023). The Changing Pharmacy and Virtual Care Landscape: An in-depth study of consumers, employers, pharmacists, and group benefits advisors in Canada. Employer / Plan Sponsor research summary, p. 5.
Benefits Canada (2022). 2022 Benefits Canada Healthcare Survey. Charting New Paths: The role of the workplace and health benefits plans to help navigate a post pandemic world, p. 26.
Ibid.


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