Opening Statement to the Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages: Digital Health Care Market Study

Remarks from Flore Kouadio, Acting Senior Competition Law Officer, Policy, Planning and Advocacy Directorate

Standing Senate Committee on Official Languages

Ottawa, Ontario

October 7, 2024

(As prepared for delivery)

Good morning, Mr. Chair – and ladies and gentlemen of the Committee. I thank you for inviting us to appear before you today.

My name is Flore Kouadio and I am an Acting Senior Competition Law Officer with the Competition Bureau’s Policy, Planning and Advocacy Directorate. With me today is Anthony Durocher, Deputy Commissioner of the Competition Promotion Branch.

The Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency that protects and promotes competition for the benefit of Canadian consumers and businesses. We do this work because competition drives lower prices and innovation while fuelling economic growth.

We administer and enforce the Competition Act. We investigate and take action against anti-competitive business practices, including price fixing, deceptive trade practices and abuse of dominance. We also review mergers to ensure they do not substantially harm competition. Finally, we promote policies and regulations that foster competition.

In July 2020, the Bureau launched a market study of the health care sector in Canada, focusing on how to support digital health services through policies that promote competition. These policies can drive innovation, increase choice and expand access to digital health services across the country.

Following a public consultation, the Bureau identified three main areas of study:

1. Data and information: The Bureau examined ways to improve access, use and sharing of digital medical data and information, including considering how their exchange and interoperability can improve the competitive landscape and accelerate the development and adoption of digital health services.
2. Goods and services: The Bureau examined issues related to the development, approval, procurement and marketing of digital goods and services. 
3. Health care providers: The Bureau examined the capacity of health care providers to deliver digital care to patients and, more specifically, issues related to billing codes, compensation, licencing and scope of practice.

It is important to note that the use of official languages in the health sector was not a subject of study. The Bureau’s mandate is limited to protecting and promoting competition. However, a competitive market requires businesses to adapt to the needs of consumers, which may include the languages in which they offer their services. This leads to more patient-centred health care.

Before answering your questions, I would like to say that the law requires that the Bureau conduct its investigations in private and protect the confidentiality of the information we obtain. This obligation could prevent us from discussing some of our current or previous investigations.

I would like to thank the Committee again for the opportunity to appear here today. We will be pleased to answer your questions.