The Ontario government is launching an AI program that they say will help reduce the paperwork burden on family doctors, freeing up about 95,000 hours during which many patients can be assisted.

This was announced by Health Minister Sylvia Jones in Toronto on Wednesday, who told reporters, "Our government is launching an innovative program called AI Scribe for more than 150 primary care providers."

Officials pointed out that the AI program will only be used if the patient gives their consent, and that patient information will remain protected under the Personal Health Information Protection Act, confirming that research indicates that the time doctors spend writing documentation after hours with patients can reach up to 50 percent.

The province is also using the program to replace the use of fax machines, digitize referral and consultation forms, and utilize digital tools to make it easier to share forms.