Health minister touts 'extraordinary progress' as B.C. sees longest walk-in clinic wait times in Canada
British Columbia walk-in clinics have the longest wait times in Canada, but the provincial health minister says the province has made "extraordinary progress" in providing primary care and is a model for the rest of the country.
Medimap – which is used by walk-in clinics in six provinces to publish information about their wait times – shared its annual Wait Time Index report on Wednesday.
According to the company, Canadians waited – on average – 68 minutes to see a doctor at a walk-in clinic in 2023. That was nearly double the average wait time Medimap recorded in 2022, which was 37 minutes.
In B.C., the average wait time rose from 79 minutes in 2022 to 93 minutes last year, according to Medimap.
The company's CEO Thomas Jankowski attributed B.C.'s performance to some of the province's efforts to improve primary care in recent years.
"B.C. has an unusual problem on its hands," Jankowski said in a statement announcing this year's report.
"Recent changes to the physician payment model have resulted in some walk-in clinics actually closing, exacerbating the very problem the change was trying to address. So while some people are getting better, more encompassing care if they get rostered at a medical clinic, those without one sometimes end up suffering more."
Earlier this month, B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix touted the new physician payment model as part of the reason 708 more doctors were practising longitudinal family medicine this year than last.
More than 80 per cent of family doctors in the province have signed up for the new payment model, Dix said at the time.
He also said there are 237 new-to-practice doctors who have chosen family medicine, a figure that suggests the remaining 471 were moving into family practice from other health-care specialties, whether within the public system or outside it.
Asked about Medimap's report at the legislature on Wednesday, Dix acknowledged Jankowski's comments about the province's payment model, reframing them as a positive reflection on the direction of the province's health-care system.
"(The Medimap report is saying) the very success of our recruitment of family doctors may have an impact on episodic care," Dix said. "And we're working on that as well."
The health minister also reiterated his comments from earlier in the month about the recruitment of new doctors, and highlighted other measures the province has taken, such as expanding the scope of practice for pharmacists and building out the province's network of urgent and primary care centres.
"We continue to work with walk-in clinics," Dix said. "We have a stabilization plan, which has helped out a lot in clinics across the province."
The health minister also critiqued Medimap's study, noting that not all walk-in clinics use the company's services, and asserting that B.C.'s efforts to transform its health-care system are a model for the rest of Canada.
"With respect to this report, as you know, it's a partial report," Dix said. "It's people who are their clients and, obviously, in part, it's to promote their services. All that is fine, but the progress in British Columbia is something that the whole country is looking at."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Judge in Trump's hush money trial threatened to throw witness out of court for behavior on stand
Michael Cohen testified Monday that he stole tens of thousands of dollars from his ex-boss Donald Trump’s company, an admission defence lawyers hope to use to undermine Cohen’s credibility.
What is BORG drinking, and why is it a dangerous trend? An expert explains
If you've been to a party lately and haven't seen someone drinking a BORG, you're likely not partying with college students.
The world's best airline is paying staff a bonus of 8 months' salary
Singapore Airlines will reward its employees with a bonus worth nearly eight months of salary, a person familiar with the matter told CNN on Friday.
Oilers win Game 7 over Canucks, advance to Western Conference Final
The Edmonton Oilers weathered a late Vancouver Canucks charge on Monday night, beating the hosts 3-2 to win their seven-game second-round playoff series in the decisive showdown.
McGill says pro-Palestinian protest outside senior administrator's home 'crosses the line'
McGill University has denounced a pro-Palestinian protest held Sunday outside the home of one of its senior administrators.
Red Lobster probes 'endless shrimp' losses after bankruptcy filing
U.S.-based restaurant chain Red Lobster has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a Florida court after securing $100 million in financing commitments from its existing lenders, the company said on Sunday.
Katy Perry sings goodbye to 'American Idol'
Katy Perry said her goodbyes on 'American Idol' after seven seasons. On Sunday night’s live 'idol' season finale, a medley of Perry's hit songs were performed, including 'Teenage Dream,' 'Dark Horse' and 'California Gurls.'
Microsoft's AI chatbot will 'recall' everything you do on a PC
Microsoft wants laptop users to get so comfortable with its artificial intelligence chatbot that it will remember everything you're doing on your computer and help figure out what you want to do next.
Judge cites error, will reopen sentencing hearing for man who attacked Nancy Pelosi's husband
A federal judge will reopen the sentencing hearing for the man who broke into Nancy Pelosi's San Francisco home and bludgeoned her husband with a hammer after the judge failed to allow him to speak during his court appearance last week.