Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services says thousands of people have availed of virtual medical appointments with Teladoc since the service was first introduced last year.

The province signed a two-year contract with the company in November 2023, valued at $11-million annually, to provide care to people without a family doctor.

NLHS say in the last year over 17,500 people have attended nearly 19,000 appointments through the service.

Dr. Jared Butler of NL Health Services says while it isn’t a substitute for in-person care, family physicians and nurse practitioners delivering care virtually can diagnose and treat common illnesses, order diagnostic tests and imaging, and make referrals when required for more complex cases.