The British Columbia government has earmarked another $155.7 million to recruit and retain health-science workers. (Submitted by CSMLS
The Canadian Press Posted: May 02, 2024
More skilled health-care staff are needed, particularly in remote communities, health minister says
The British Columbia government is spending more money to recruit and retain health-science workers, while expanding an incentive program to dozens more rural communities.
Health Minister Adrian Dix says $155.7 million has been set aside at a time when B.C. has a “significantly increasing population” and more skilled health-care staff are needed, particularly in remote communities.
Dozens of occupations will benefit from the funding, including audiologists, dietitians, lab technologists and radiation therapists.
Dix says $73.1 million will go toward keeping health and clinical support workers in rural areas and giving signing bonuses for those who fill high-priority health vacancies, while another $60 million will be set aside for professional development supports and mental health and wellness services for workers.
Dix says $15 million will be spent on peer support and mentorship for new health-care graduates and internationally educated health professionals, and $7.6 million is slated for training, bursaries and offsetting licensing and exam fees.
The province also said in a news release that its rural retention incentive program, which provides up to $8,000 per year to health-care workers in small communities, is being expanded to 56 more locations.
That means a total of 74 communities — including Hope, Fernie, Golden and Quesnel — will receive the one-year program’s benefits, which last until the end of March 2025.
Norah Miner, labour relations co-ordinator of the Health Sciences Association of B.C., lauded the changes, saying it will affect about 20,000 specialized health professionals across 70 different disciplines working in the province.
