Ensuring Excellence: Renewing BC’s Primary Care System

In 2000, the Doctors of BC embarked upon a review of the province’s primary care delivery system.

British Columbians are privileged to be served by a primary care delivery system that ranks among the best in the world. However, our system is under significant stress from increasing demands, aging patients and providers and an inadequate technological and physical infrastructure. Our response must be measured and based on evidence.

BC is a large and diverse province with a myriad of primary care needs. No single model will optimally serve all populations. We must ensure active public and provider input in choosing models most appropriate to the needs of each community and providing adequate incentives to facilitate necessary changes. Experience shows that a unilaterally imposed framework may create a short-term change, but will not be sustained.

Primary care delivery is the backbone of our health system. While many considerations must be weighed in the development of future delivery models, quality of care and the capacity to provide this care must come first.

For the full policy paper, please see “Ensuring Excellence: Renewing BC’s Primary Care System”.