NDP promises to add 45,000 more health care workers in latest campaign pledge

BC NDP leader David Eby is reiterating the party’s plan to boost the number of doctors in the province if the incumbent party is elected in the upcoming general election.

During a campaign stop on Thursday, the party leader committed to adding 45,000 more health care workers to B.C.

“Our health-care system is under huge strain. We see massive population growth in British Columbia, with 300,000 people choosing to move here in the last two years alone,” EBy said. “Coming out of the pandemic, a lot of stressed out, hard-working health care workers make the decision to retire at the same time as demand was growing in our province.”

“We have a shortage of health-care workers, not just here in British Columbia, but right across Canada and in many parts of the world.”

Eby says the NDP will push to get more foreign-trained physicians into the system, guaranteeing provisional licences for internationally trained doctors within six weeks.

“We will be directing The College of Physicians and Surgeons to issue provisional licences to internationally trained doctors and nurses … within six weeks, and directing them to issue immediate provisional licences for physicians who want to come from other provinces in Canada to practice in British Columbia,” he said. “The same thing for nurses. We need to make sure that these workers are able to get into a position to deliver care sooner.”

As well, Eby says the New Democrats will make changes to student loans to help nurses and other health care professionals with a loan forgiveness incentive. Eby explains it would require health workers to stay in B.C. for a minimum of five years after graduating.

“What we see is when people start working in these communities, they fall in love with them, and they stay for the long term,” Eby shared of health-care workers in rural B.C. areas.

“Our communities are growing. People need support,” Eby said.