Policy Database

Doctors of BC Position: Doctors of BC calls on the Premier and the Minister of Health to formally recognize addiction as a chronic disease and increase resources for addiction treatment and care in BC over the next 5 years. Addiction care infrastructure must be a priority in 2009, and the province must create 240 new detoxification spaces and 600 new addiction treatment beds by 2012.

Doctors of BC Position: Doctors of BC supports a number of recommendations on improving acute care services in BC. Efforts to improve access to acute care must focus on establishing wait time benchmarks for acute care, increasing supply of acute care beds, managing beds effectively, investing in community-based care, and improving government accountability. To better predict areas of need and to better allocate acute care resources, additional data collection and modelling is needed that is based on the realities of the practice setting and should be developed in collaboration with practicing physicians.

Doctors of BC Position: In order to manage prescription drug advertising and influence Doctors of BC supports developing guidelines for healthcare providers to manage their relationship with the pharmaceutical industry, enhancing oversight of promotional activities by drug manufacturers, and providing accurate and unbiased prescription drug information for patients.

Doctors of BC Position: Doctors of BC believes that by working collaboratively, physicians, allied health professionals, and the government can develop practical, effective policies for Multidisciplinary Care (MDC) practice and improve health care for British Columbians.

Doctors of BC Position: Doctors of BC supports community-based programs that offer naloxone and other opioid overdose prevention services. Doctors of BC also encourages education of health workers and opioid users about the use of naloxone in preventing overdose fatalities.

Doctors of BC Position: Doctors of BC calls on the Ministry of Health to coordinate efforts between each municipality and regional district to identify risks posed to all essential hospital and community health care staff in the event of an influenza pandemic, in order to plan for the distribution of sufficient antiviral prophylaxis and barrier protective equipment to ensure the provision of a sustainable health care system.

Doctors of BC Position: Doctors of BC recommends that the Government place a high priority on reducing the levels of harmful agents such as protozoa, bacteria, viruses, and disinfection by-products, as well as naturally occurring elements in drinking water supplies at local, provincial/territorial, and national levels.

Doctors of BC Position: Doctors of BC work with the Occupational Health and Safety Agency for Healthcare in BC and others appropriate agencies to develop risk assessments particular to health care workplaces, and programs to build capacity in violence prevention training suitable to a wide variety of health care settings.