Province To Provide Stabilization Funding To Family Doctors

Family doctors in British Columbia are getting a boost.

Family doctors in British Columbia are getting a boost.

The province is freeing up $118 million in stabilization funding to family doctors throughout BC to help them ensure their patients have continued access to primary care services.

Jointly developed in partnership with Doctors of BC, the funding is part of an expansion of BC's primary care strategy, which includes the development of a new compensation model.

This short-term funding will be for four months, beginning October 1st, 2022 and will support family doctors and medical clinics with their operational business costs.

Doctor Ramneek Dosanjh, president of Doctors of BC, says it's an important first step to help doctors keep their practices open for patients until a longer-term solution is in place.

The funding is available to family doctors who provide ongoing services to their patients and who pay overhead costs.

As well, primary care clinics, including walk-in clinics, that commit to remaining open and maintaining consistent clinic hours can apply for funding on behalf of the clinic and doctors working in it.

Approximately 3,480 family doctors who have their own practices and 1,100 family doctors working in walk-in clinics are expected to receive funding.

That represents more than 70% of family doctors working in the province.

The Province and Doctors of BC continue to collaborate to achieve a new physician master agreement and a new compensation model for family physicians, both of which are expected to be announced in the fall.