A personal experience ignited my passion for addressing this issue: I was referred from West Toronto General Hospital to St. Michael's Hospital for specialist care. However, the referral never arrived. It was only through my own persistent follow-up that I discovered this error, compelling me to chase the clinic to resend it and confirm receipt myself. No patient should have to endure managing their own referral chain, and a lost fax should never delay someone's medical care. This is a patient safety failure, not merely a technological inconvenience.

The unfortunate reality is that, as we look toward the year 2026, over 90% of doctors in Ontario are still relying on outdated fax machines to send prescriptions and referrals. According to the Privacy Commissioner, this practice is the number one cause of unauthorized health data disclosure in Ontario.

Despite the pressing need for change, the federal e-prescribing program, PrescribeIT, which had swallowed $250 million in funding, recently shut down, leaving our healthcare professionals with no viable alternatives. This leaves a significant gap in our healthcare system, one that not only compromises efficiency but also patient safety.

This is why I am calling on the Ontario government to take immediate action. We must set a firm deadline to eliminate the use of faxes in our healthcare system. It is imperative to fund secure digital alternatives that ensure confidentiality and efficacy. Moreover, we need to mandate interoperability across all health systems to guarantee seamless communication between healthcare providers.

Our healthcare system should meet the highest standards, ensuring secure, reliable communication methods that protect patient data and expedite medical care. No one should suffer delays or data breaches due to antiquated technology.

By signing this petition, you support a movement towards modernizing our healthcare communications and safeguarding patient safety in Ontario. Let us hold our government accountable and demand a system that truly meets our needs. Sign this petition to demand the Ontario government to end the reliance on fax machines for medical communications and move towards secure, modern alternatives.