Health-care rally draws hundreds to B.C. legislature
As a growing number of British Columbians can’t find a primary care provider, hundreds of demonstrators demanded more health-care resources at a “Rally for Change” at the legislature.
The gathering was organized by B.C. Health Care Matters, a patient-led advocacy group, that encouraged attendees to wear white if they have a family doctors and black if they do not at the event they planned for World Family Doctor Day.
“Words can hardly describe how it feels to see so many people come out and join us in this cause,” said group founder Camille Curry, telling attendees that legislators inside were talking about the demonstration and their concerns. “They are talking about family doctors, they are sharing statements about the importance of this crisis.”
Speakers shared stories about difficulties accessing primary care and lost loved ones who didn’t get medical attention in time to prevent serious illnesses and deaths.
“This shortage is killing people,” said one.
Physicians also attended, many of them wearing stethoscopes to indicate their role. Among them were members of a new grassroots organization composed of family and specialist physicians, called Family Doctors for Patient Care in B.C. They presented MLAs with a document that made suggestions while bluntly telling them that they “are becoming extinct because of provincial health policies targeted at B.C.’s access to a family doctor.”
“Rather than specializing in one disease or body system, we have chosen to specialize in the patient as a whole,” Dr. Jennifer Lush told the crowd.
“Therefore, we deserve to have a seat at the table in any discussion if primary care reform.”
An estimated one-in-five people cannot find a family doctor despite British Columbia having a high number of trained physicians per capita. The province pays physicians per patient visit, which doctors say doesn’t account for patients who need more time and care, and has not kept up with their expenses nor the increasingly complex needs of the population; family doctors must also run their own business under the current model, which is time-consuming and pays significantly less per hour than hospital work.
“They promised us they would provide team-based primary care,” said haematologist Dr. Adrian Yee of past government statements.
“They have not delivered … people cannot access essential primary care in our communities.”
The premier and health minister met with Doctors of B.C. on Tuesday to discuss the escalating crisis and claimed to make progress on their issues, with the doctors’ association revealing the premier hinted there could be a tangible financial commitment in the works. At that meeting, the premier acknowledged the situation is “dire.”
But that discussion came on the heels of Health Minister Adrian Dix enraging family doctors after he told the interim Liberal leader that nurse practitioners provide better care because they spend more time with patients, prompting a rare rebuke from organizations representing the province’s primary care physicians.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Quebec judge orders bus driver to stand trial for 2023 daycare crash deaths
A judge has ordered a Quebec man to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of two children killed when a bus rammed into a Montreal-area daycare last year.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor qualifies Canada for Paralympics in rowing event
Former Humboldt Broncos goaltender and bus crash survivor Jacob Wassermann has qualified Canada for a rowing event for the 2024 Paralympic games in Paris.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
Calgary officer charged after allegedly assaulting handcuffed man
A Calgary police officer has been charged after allegedly assaulting a handcuffed man two years ago.
Trudeau's latest pre-budget pledge targets millennial moms, vowing $1B in loans for more child-care spaces
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.