BC Premier John Horgan said he met with representatives from Doctors of BC to devise solutions for the province’s shortage of family physicians..Previously known as the British Columbia Medical Association, Doctors of BC is an organization representing 14,000 physicians, medical residents, and medical students across the province..Health Minister Adrian Dix also joined the premier for a “constructive discussion,” focusing on a lack of access to primary care..One million British Columbians are without a family doctor and remain unable to get one, according to the BC College of Family Physicians. A research poll released by the college in April shows 40% of those who do have a family doctor in BC are worried they will be lost to practice closure or retirement..Highlighting family physician's "central role" regarding the early identification of disease and improving management of chronic and complex illness, the college says a higher supply of family doctors can be measurably correlated with better health outcomes..“Our government and Doctors of BC fully agree that British Columbians should be attached to primary care and have predictable access to their physicians,” said Horgan Tuesday..“It is through continued dialogue and co-operation with physicians that we will be able to provide solutions to provide transformational change to BC by building on our historic efforts.”.Without yet providing specific detail, Horgan said his government will work closely with Doctors of BC to provide solutions “with firm timelines” to address the shortage..However the premier did definitively confirm that privatization will not be considered; rather he will “make it clear” to the federal government that it must “address the lack of federal funding in healthcare throughout the country.”.Looking to the past, Horgan further highlighted there were 437,000 British Columbians unattached to a primary care practitioner in 2003, doubling to 897,000 by 2017..“The problem didn’t start yesterday,” he said..The premier’s communication with Doctors of BC and subsequent statement comes amid widespread criticism of his government’s decision to spend nearly $800 million replacing the Royal BC Museum..BC Liberal leader Kevin Falcon vocalized his disdain for the project at the legislature Tuesday, specifically highlighting the province’s shortage of family doctors..“And yet this premier thinks now is the time to blow a billion dollars on a poorly thought out vanity museum boondoggle?” he said..On Tuesday NDP MLAs criticized Falcon for having supported a federal reduction of annual increases to the Canada Health Transfer in 2011, a move the NDP Caucus says “cost British Columbians billions in healthcare funding.”
BC Premier John Horgan said he met with representatives from Doctors of BC to devise solutions for the province’s shortage of family physicians..Previously known as the British Columbia Medical Association, Doctors of BC is an organization representing 14,000 physicians, medical residents, and medical students across the province..Health Minister Adrian Dix also joined the premier for a “constructive discussion,” focusing on a lack of access to primary care..One million British Columbians are without a family doctor and remain unable to get one, according to the BC College of Family Physicians. A research poll released by the college in April shows 40% of those who do have a family doctor in BC are worried they will be lost to practice closure or retirement..Highlighting family physician's "central role" regarding the early identification of disease and improving management of chronic and complex illness, the college says a higher supply of family doctors can be measurably correlated with better health outcomes..“Our government and Doctors of BC fully agree that British Columbians should be attached to primary care and have predictable access to their physicians,” said Horgan Tuesday..“It is through continued dialogue and co-operation with physicians that we will be able to provide solutions to provide transformational change to BC by building on our historic efforts.”.Without yet providing specific detail, Horgan said his government will work closely with Doctors of BC to provide solutions “with firm timelines” to address the shortage..However the premier did definitively confirm that privatization will not be considered; rather he will “make it clear” to the federal government that it must “address the lack of federal funding in healthcare throughout the country.”.Looking to the past, Horgan further highlighted there were 437,000 British Columbians unattached to a primary care practitioner in 2003, doubling to 897,000 by 2017..“The problem didn’t start yesterday,” he said..The premier’s communication with Doctors of BC and subsequent statement comes amid widespread criticism of his government’s decision to spend nearly $800 million replacing the Royal BC Museum..BC Liberal leader Kevin Falcon vocalized his disdain for the project at the legislature Tuesday, specifically highlighting the province’s shortage of family doctors..“And yet this premier thinks now is the time to blow a billion dollars on a poorly thought out vanity museum boondoggle?” he said..On Tuesday NDP MLAs criticized Falcon for having supported a federal reduction of annual increases to the Canada Health Transfer in 2011, a move the NDP Caucus says “cost British Columbians billions in healthcare funding.”