British Columbia announced a plan this week that will boost physicians’ incomes, but more changes may be necessary to increase nationwide access to family physicians.
An estimated one in five British Columbians do not have a family doctor. Meaning, emergency rooms in rural communities have been forced to close, wait times for emergency and specialized care continue to climb and a lack of paramedics has had severe, sometimes fatal, consequences.
As Canada's doctor shortage grows, people are getting creative in their search for primary care. The Vancouver Island woman whose newspaper ad seeking a doctor inspired a copycat in Vancouver has found a family physician for her husband. But there are still millions without access to primary care.
LANGFORD, B.C. - British Columbia Premier John Horgan suggested Wednesday the approach of a Victoria couple who placed a newspaper ad to find a family doctor could be one of his next steps to pressure the federal government to increase health funding.