Photo: Paul Adams, Jude Kornelsen, Premier Eby, Minister Osborne, Minister Anderson
March 5th 2025 – By Paul Adams, Executive Director, BC Rural Health Network
Bridging the Gap: Advancing Rural Health Priorities
This past week, I had the opportunity to be in Victoria, engaging with political and bureaucratic leaders on healthcare, including our Acting Deputy Minister Mark Armitage, Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Health Toporowski, the Minister of State for Rural Communities Brittny Anderson, Conservative Party MLA Kindy, MLA Day, and MLA Rattee. Today, I will also be meeting with the Premier and later with the BC Green Caucus to continue these vital discussions. These conversations come at a critical time as the 2025 budget was unveiled yesterday in the legislature, offering a glimpse into the province’s spending priorities over the next three years.
The budget outlines a $4.2 billion increase in healthcare spending, with $443 million dedicated to improving primary care access and $870 million allocated toward new hospital infrastructure. However, there are still many unanswered questions regarding the allocation of funds for specialized health professionals, mental health and addiction care, travel assistance and the expansion of rural healthcare services specifically. As always, detailed spending breakdowns are not entirely revealed in the initial budget announcement, leaving room for continued dialogue and understanding.
From the BC Rural Health Network’s perspective, we remain concerned that many of the priorities essential to rural healthcare are not explicitly addressed in the budget lines. However, that does not necessarily mean investments will not be made. Through our meetings in Victoria, we have been pushing for several key policy commitments, including:
- Returning Rural Community Voices to Health System Planning: Rural communities must have a say in their healthcare, ensuring that decisions reflect local needs and challenges. The voices of those who live, work, and play in rural British Columbia must be integrated into policy development and implementation.
- Information Dissemination to the Grassroots of Rural BC: Investing in strong bi-directional communications strategies that effectively reach and inform rural communities across the province. These must be inclusive of all communities and must inform the grassroot community champions living in rural BC as information fails to reach rural in top down delivery method. Many amazing services and good information is failing to reach the required audiences.
- Implementation of a Rural Health Strategy: Ensuring a focused rural policy and practices are a key part of improving health services in BC. One size doesn’t fit all the unique nature of small town BC requires management through a rural lens.
- Investment in Medical Travel and Accommodation: Patients from rural areas continue to face significant barriers to accessing care due to high travel and lodging costs. We have reiterated the need for enhanced funding to support those who must travel for essential medical services.
- Strengthening Team-Based Care Models: The current physician-centered system is no longer adequate to meet the evolving healthcare needs of rural British Columbians. Expanding team-based primary care, incorporating nurse practitioners, pharmacists, physician assistants, virtual supports and allied health professionals, is crucial for rural communities.
- Enhanced Mental Health Supports: While $500 million has been allocated for addiction treatment and recovery services, the budget does not provide clarity on rural-specific mental health initiatives. Ensuring that mental health care is accessible, timely, and adequately funded remains a key concern.
- Fulfilling the Commitments of the Canada Health Act: All insured residents of British Columbia must be provided reasonable access to healthcare services without financial or logistical barriers.
Despite the gaps in explicit rural healthcare funding, we see a renewed focus on rural health within the Ministry of Health and among our political representatives. There is a shared determination across party lines to find innovative solutions that improve healthcare access and delivery in rural and remote communities. We will continue working with all parties, in advancing rural health priorities, and keeping residents informed as the budget progresses through estimates and the legislature.
Now, more than ever, Canada must stand strong together, and British Columbia serves as a shining example of unity, resilience, and commitment to public health. Regardless of political affiliation, we must focus on the common ground, ensuring that location or medical condition does not determine one’s ability to access care.
With the dedicated collaboration of healthcare professionals, policymakers, and community advocates, we can shape a healthcare system that truly serves all British Columbians. We will remain vigilant in our efforts and continue championing solutions that benefit our rural communities.
Stand strong, B.C.!
