Our 2025 rural healthcare wish list

Looking ahead to 2025, here’s our wish list for rural healthcare — key priorities we’re eager to get to work on:

1. Keep rural ERs open
   Emergency room closures deeply impact rural communities. We hope to see targeted strategies to stabilize rural ERs through sustainable staffing solutions, improved rural compensation models, and improved support for healthcare teams.
2. Strengthen recruitment and retention for rural healthcare
   Attracting doctors, nurses and other health professionals to rural communities requires a multi-pronged approach. From relocation bonuses to fair compensation models, we aim to ensure healthcare workers feel valued and supported.
3. Cut down on administrative burdens
   Reducing unnecessary paperwork, like sick notes, and transitioning away from outdated technologies like fax machines would give healthcare providers more time to focus on patients. Streamlining administrative processes is essential for improving care.
4. Invest in healthcare education and training
   With BC’s first new medical school in 50 years set to open at SFU, we’re hopeful this investment will produce more family doctors and encourage them to practice in under-served communities. Expanding UBC’s medical school capacity and creating rural-focused residency programs will also be critical.
5. Expand access to primary care
   Primary care is the cornerstone of our healthcare system. We hope to see expanded efforts to connect British Columbians with family doctors and nurse practitioners, ensuring everyone has a reliable entry point to care.

Building Fair Care Everywhere in 2025

Health Minister Josie Osborne’s early comments give us hope for positive change in rural healthcare. We’re excited to work together to turn this wish list into action and create a healthcare system that works for every British Columbian, no matter where they live.

Stay tuned for updates on our advocacy efforts as we continue striving for fair care everywhere!