B.C.'s Health Minister faces critical decisions in our care crisis

Comment: Too many British Columbians don’t have a family doctor, and many doctors are leaving the profession because the workload is unsustainable

Published Jan 02, 2025  •  Last updated 0 minutes ago  •  3 minute read

VICTORIA, B.C.: November, 18, 2024 - Minister of Health Josie Osborne with Lieutenant Governor Janet Austin (R) during a swearing in ceremony at Govenment House in VICTORIA, B.C. November 18, 2024. (ADRIAN LAM, TIMES COLONIST). For City story by Cindy Harnett. Photo by ADRIAN LAM /TIMES COLONIST

Health Minister Josie Osborne has stepped into a critical position at a critical time, and her leadership will shape the future of health care for millions of British Columbians.

British Columbians are counting on her. Our health care system is in crisis. Family doctors are overburdened and patients are waiting far too long for care. These challenges demand immediate and decisive action.

Article content

At the heart of the health care system is primary care. Family doctors are the backbone, providing personalized, ongoing care that keeps people healthy and out of hospitals. Yet, too many British Columbians don’t have a family doctor, and many doctors are leaving the profession because the workload is unsustainable.

Here’s our wish list for the new health minister.

1. Fix the foundation: Reduce administrative burdens and support family doctors

Administrative burdens consume up to 40 per cent of a family doctor’s time, according to the Canadian Medical Association. Every hour spent on paperwork is an hour away from patient care. Eliminating sick notes, simplifying forms, modernizing billing systems, and investing in administrative support will free up doctors to focus on what they do best — caring for patients.

Doctors are also calling for stronger practice supports to manage their family medicine clinics more efficiently. Providing these resources is key to retaining family doctors and ensuring sustainable care for patients.

The longitudinal family practice payment model, introduced last year, is a step in the right direction, valuing the time a physician spends with a patient and recognizing the complexity of modern patient care. It needs ongoing refinement to address gaps and support diverse practice needs.

Article content

Article content

2. Fair care everywhere: Address rural health care inequities 

Rural residents face impossible choices: travel hours for care or go without it. Emergency room closures, patchy transportation and physician burnout are making the situation worse. Communities are losing doctors to urban centres due to inadequate support and pay.

The challenges are immense. Rural doctors juggle emergencies, primary care, and surgeries with limited resources. Patients rely on unreliable transportation, delaying critical treatment. And communities are left struggling to attract and retain health care professionals.

We’re calling for:

• More staff to reduce waiting times and prevent burnout.

• Reliable transportation systems to connect patients with care, and get them home once they’re well.

• Fair pay to attract and keep rural health professionals.

The Canada Health Act promises equal access to care, but rural residents are being left behind. This isn’t just a health issue, it’s an economic and social one. Healthy communities attract businesses, sustain families, and fuel forestry, mining and tourism. Addressing these inequities will benefit the whole province.

Article content

3. Strengthen teams: Invest in team-based care for sustainable solutions 

Primary care networks and team-based care are promising innovations but remain underused. A stronger investment in interdisciplinary teams will improve access to care and ease the burden on individual doctors, specialists in long-term, relationship-based care. We’d like to see:

• Strengthening primary care teams, led by a family doctor, with nurses, mental health workers and dieticians and other health professionals, to share the workload.

• Increased funding for primary care networks, supporting collaborative, integrated care models that improve outcomes and reduce strain.

• Investments in telemedicine and interdisciplinary approaches to reach underserved populations and maximize efficiency.

• Team-based care ensures patients receive the comprehensive support they need while lightening the load for doctors. It’s a win-win.

The time to act is now.

Her success as health minister will depend on her ability to rebuild trust in our health care system. Patients need to know they’ll get the care they need when they need it. Physicians and other health care workers need to feel heard, valued, and supported. The challenges ahead are immense, and so is the opportunity for transformative change. By fixing the foundation, addressing rural health inequities, and investing in team-based care, she can create a system that works for everyone in B.C.

British Columbians are counting on her leadership. We’re here to work with her, support her — and hold her accountable.

Dr. Maryam Zeineddin is president of B.C. Family Doctors

Article content