This Template Letter can be used by anyone who would like to call on the B.C. Government to regulate and include Physician Assistants into the province’s health care.
Insert your information, or your organization’s information where the bold/coloured text is
MONTH DATE, 2021
Honourable Adrian Dix
Minister of Health
PO BOX 9050
Victoria, BC V8W 9E2
Use this to find your MLA -> https://www.leg.bc.ca/Pages/BCLASS-Member-Search-PostalCode.aspx
MLA ADD NAME
MLA for ADD LOCATION
ADD MAILING ADDRESS
via email: HLTH.Minister@gov.bc.ca ADD MLA EMAIL
Dear Minister Dix and MLA ADD LAST NAME,
I/THE ORGANIZATION AM/ARE writing to ask you to regulate and support Physician Assistants in British Columbia.
ADD INFORMATION ON YOUR SPECIFIC NEED FOR PAS / REASON FOR HELPING
The Canadian Association of Physician Assistants (CAPA), which represents more than 800 certified physician assistants (PAs) across Canada, including more than 25 civilian and military PAs who live in British Columbia (B.C.) and many others who hail from B.C. but live elsewhere in Canada because they are not eligible to practice medicine in their home province, have been calling on the Government of British Columbia to regulate this profession for years, and THE ORGANIZATION/I AM/ARE joining their call. Now, more than ever, the skills and attributes that PAs have been fully trained to provide can be depended upon to help provide necessary medical care to British Columbians.
PAs are currently regulated in Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Alberta, with Ontario regulation announced. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the opioid crisis, and lack of medical supports for rural and First Nation peoples, British Columbians need PAs to be regulated and integrated into the healthcare system now. As an example, residents of Port McNeill (and several other dependent remote outreach communities) are currently experiencing a doctor shortage and the destabilization of primary care. There are PAs in these jurisdictions ready, but unable to work.
THE ORGANIZATION/I AM/ARE asking that the Government of British Columbia:
Introduce PAs.
- Establish regulation for PAs in cooperation with the College of Physicians and Surgeons for British Columbia (CPSBC). The CPSBC has indicated that they are supportive and can make the necessary changes quickly.
Invest in PAs in priority areas.
- B.C. faces challenges in several areas of health care, especially in rural and remote locations. By funding PA positions, we can help to improve both access to and continuity of care for our most vulnerable populations.
Develop fair and sustainable compensation models.
- This will ensure there is a mechanism for employers to hire PAs.
Train PAs in B.C.
- Introduce a training program to help ensure the future supply of PAs to help address the needs of patients.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME or ORGANIZATION NAME
