We welcome the Premier’s focus on improving primary care, strengthening health workforce recruitment and retention and reducing administrative burdens in his recent mandate letter to Health Minister Josie Osborn. Family doctors play a critical role in delivering high-quality, continuous care to British Columbians and we are pleased to see recognition of the urgent need to connect more patients with family doctors.
It is crucial that the government’s commitment to reviewing all Ministry of Health programs and spending protects the Longitudinal Family Practice (LFP) Payment Model. This model has revolutionized family medicine in BC by stabilizing community-based practices, enabling family doctors to accept new patients, and ensuring that British Columbians receive the relationship-based care they need. Any funding review should enhance, not weaken, the LFP model.
BC Family Doctors will continue advocating for:
- A sustained commitment to the LFP Payment Model to provide stability for longitudinal, relationship-based primary care providers in BC.
- Recruitment and retention efforts that make family medicine a viable career choice, including reducing administrative burdens that take doctors away from patient care.
- Strengthening our healthcare system including timely access to specialists
- Collaboration with family doctors on system redesign to ensure changes support longitudinal, community-based care.
- Better integration of family medicine into mental health, addictions and seniors’ care so patients receive seamless, holistic care.
Family medicine is the backbone of our healthcare system. We look forward to working with Minister Osborne to ensure family doctors remain supported and that every British Columbian has access to a family doctor when and where they need one.
Dr. Maryam Zeneidden
President, BC Family Doctors