The province’s next budget is expected take into consideration the high cost of living, climate change and access to health care following the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services’ report on budget consultation.
The 127-page report contains 216 recommendations to guide the provincial finance minister’s next budget, to be delivered next February.
The report is a summary of priorities, concerns and ideas identified by citizens and organizations over a month-long consultation. The committee heard 306 presentations, and received 372 submissions and 861 responses to an online survey.
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Health-care recommendations include an immediate review of primary care to determine how the system can work better and starting a long-term care forum to develop a plan to reform that system.
The committee made several recommendations to improve recruitment, training, credentialing and retention of health-care professionals, especially family doctors, as well as exploring the use of physician assistants, midwives, and mental-health counsellors to improve access to health care.
The committee stressed the need for improved data collection and accountability to ensure better decision-making that is rooted in reconciliation, equity and inclusion.
See the BC Rural Health Network submission to the committee here…
