B.C. announces stop-gap health care funding of $118 million

As B.C. grapples with a doctor shortage and increasing health care service scarcity, the province has announced millions in funding with the goal of “stabilizing” the situation for family doctors.

It has announced $118 million, “available to family doctors who provide ongoing services to their patients and who pay overhead costs.”

“As well, primary care clinics, including walk-in clinics, that commit to remaining open and maintaining consistent clinic hours can apply for funding on behalf of the clinic and doctors working in it,” the province added.

The money is meant to support doctors and clinics with operational business costs. But the funding is only short-term, offered from Oct. 1 to Jan. 31.

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“This is an important first step to help doctors keep their practices open for patients over a four-month period until we have a longer-term solution to the very real problems in primary care,” said Dr. Ramneek Dosanjh, president of Doctors of BC.

Dosanjh says nearly a million British Columbians do not have a family doctor.

“We want to ensure that everyone has a family doctor who can provide them with the quality care they need and deserve.”

The province says it it is still working with Doctors of BC on a new physician master agreement, and a new compensation model for “longitudinal family physicians.” Both are expected to be announced this fall.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us to achieve longer-term solutions, to help the primary health-care system in this province. But I do believe we are one step closer to getting there,” Dosanjh said.

People across the province have felt the strain on the health-care system with long waits at emergency rooms and difficulty getting into a walk-in clinic.

Health Minister Adrian Dix blames the COVID-19 pandemic, extreme weather events, the toxic drug crisis, and changing demographics for strains on the system.

“People are struggling to access a family doctor when they need care. Family doctors are struggling to keep up with rising operational costs, an aging population, and increasing complexity of patients’ health needs,” he said.

Dix notes the $118-million funding announcement equates to roughly $25,000 per doctor.

“So, if you have a practice with four doctors in it, that would be $100,000, as an example.”

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According to the B.C. government, more than 4,500 doctors will receive this interim funding, representing more than 70 per cent of all family practices and walk-in clinics.

Emergency health services all across Canada have been put under strain due to a shortage of physicians. Emergency departments across B.C. have had to temporarily close or reduce hours. Many doctors have pointed to the compensation model as one of the biggest problems.

-With files from Robyn Crawford