Doctors of BC is responding to the BC government announcement this week that it will launch a review of all health authorities (HA) to ensure resources are allocated wisely, critical patient services are supported, and unnecessary administrative spending is minimized, beginning with the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA).
Doctors of BC, the association which represents over 16,000 doctors across the province, looks forward to this review but is calling on government to ensure it consults with frontline doctors early and meaningfully throughout the process. These doctors take care of thousands of British Columbians daily, including cancer patients, sick kids, and pregnant people. These frontline doctors truly understand how health authorities can be improved and how the system can work better for everyone. Their input is incredibly valuable. Patients trust doctors with their personal well-being and government should actively engage them in reforms that involve health care provision.
Closed-door reviews that don’t include key people with first-hand information to share won’t achieve the full potential and activate change, which is the goal of this project. Meaningful consultation with those who have ideas to improve administrative efficiencies and get more resources to the frontlines is key, and Doctors of BC and its members have ideas to help PHSA, and all health authorities, make improvements.
Solutions should focus on directing more resources to the frontlines. Directly addressing staffing shortages, burnout, and health and safety are examples of areas where re-investment would be welcomed by doctors to support and protect healthcare workers.
Addressing health authority challenges is not new for Doctors of BC and its members. For the last eight years, our biennial Health Authority Engagement Survey has measured physician engagement with their health authority and their perceptions of the system. Our next survey will take place in the fall of 2025.
BC doctors can let Doctors of BC know their thoughts on the PHSA review, and all subsequent health authority reviews, via our engagement platform, Have Your Say. This engagement will be open until May 4, 2025, and the feedback will be shared directly with government on doctors’ behalf. Doctors of BC will also explore other avenues with the Ministry of Health to provide input into this review process.
