Since the launch of the Health Connect Registry in July 2023, more than 248,000 people have been connected to a family doctor or nurse practitioner, with hundreds being matched daily. In total, over 570,000 people have gained access to primary care through B.C.’s ongoing strategy, which began in 2018.
Efforts to recruit and retain healthcare workers continue, with 835 new primary-care doctors added since February 2023 under a new physician pay model. The pace of connections has accelerated to 4,000 people per week — a 52% increase from last year — and an additional 160,000 are expected to be matched within the next six months.
Premier David Eby emphasized the need to keep up this momentum: “We want B.C. to be a place where health care is always there for you, which is why we’re hiring more family doctors and health professionals than ever before. We’re starting to see some good results, but there’s a lot more we need to do.”
In addition to expanding healthcare access, B.C. is addressing housing for healthcare workers. A new BC Builds project in Surrey will offer rental homes for nurses and healthcare professionals near a new hospital. This project is part of a $19-billion housing investment since 2017, which has delivered 84,000 homes across the province, including nearly 1,900 in Surrey.
The province is also streamlining the process for internationally educated healthcare workers. Since January 2023, over 1,300 doctors and nurses have gained full or provisional registration. These efforts are part of B.C.’s strategy to meet rising healthcare demands and provide timely, quality care.
For more details visit : https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2024HLTH0043-001541
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