B.C.’s doctors have ratified their main labour agreement with the province for the next four years.
The agreement between the province and Doctors of BC increases funding for doctors practicing in areas of need, adds eligibility for after-hours premiums and provides funding to address gender inequity and income disparities.
“Our health care system is under enormous strain, and this agreement will help support doctors in delivering the best possible care,” Doctors of BC President Adam Thompson said in a news release. “Doctors of BC is committed to working with the Ministry of Health to address pressures in the health-care system and ensure that it is adaptive and responsive to the needs of British Columbians across the province.”
Doctors will receive increased funding for working in rural communities, delivering maternity care as family doctors, and providing gynecological, pediatric, psychiatric and forensic services.
There will be a new premium paid for elective surgeries scheduled on evenings, weekends and statutory holidays. Doctors will also be paid more for on-call work.
And the province agreed to “continuing and improving the Longitudinal Family Physician Payment Model, as appropriate.” This is the payment system launched in 2023 to pay doctors for the time spent with patients and the complexity of cases.
The agreement was passed with 91.8 per cent of 4,292 doctors voting in support.