Lung Transplant Housing Support Group Leads Initiative for Equitable Healthcare Access in BC
[Vancouver, BC] – In a significant move to address healthcare inequities for rural residents of British Columbia, the Lung Transplant Housing Support organization has formed a working group, with participation from the BC Rural Health Network (BCRHN), UBC Centre for Rural Health Research, and Vancouver City Councillor Pete Fry. This initiative seeks to enhance access to healthcare facilities for residents, with an initial focus on those who need to travel to Vancouver for organ transplants. The specific focus is on reducing the cost burden of travel and accommodation to the patient. An initial meeting of the group on January 10th brought together a collaborative gathering of NGOs, Health Authorities, Non-Profits, and politicians to hear and understand more about the issues faced by rural patients.
Jacqueline Podewils, co-lead of the Lung Transplant Housing Support group, emphasizes, “This effort, while initially centered on housing transplant recipients during their time in Vancouver, serves as a cornerstone for broader healthcare accessibility strategies.” She added “Each year, approximately 450 transplants are performed in BC, with approximately one third of patients traveling from outside the Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health Authorities. The financial burden for these patients is staggering, as they require $20,000 to $30,000 to cover accommodation expenses in Vancouver during their required three-month post-procedural stay. This financial strain has led to instances where patients, unable to afford these costs, have declined surgery.”
Patient Stories – The Cost of Life
Jude Kornelsen, Co-lead researcher and Associate Professor at UBC Centre for Rural Health Research, will spearhead research initiatives. “Our research will provide vital insights into the challenges faced by residents, informing policy and program development in line with the Canada Health Act’s commitment to comprehensive coverage,” says Kornelsen. “The opportunity to look at the impacts to 150 people will provide the ability to look in-depth at an issue impacting all residents requiring care outside of the community. We know impacts are felt by the patient, their families and the host community caring for them. There are many costs to the patient, but also upstream system costs incurred when patients are not able to secure timely access to care.”
The BC Rural Health Network underscores the importance of community involvement and hearing the lived experiences of people who live in rural and remote BC. “Our goal is to engage with communities across BC to disseminate information and programs, ensuring an inclusive approach to healthcare accessibility. As we continue to engage across our vast province, we hear many stories of the hardships people face, more than financial stressors. The results are often tragic in terms of health and outcomes. We need to do more to help more people reach care. Access to care is a right afforded to all insured residents and more must be done to ensure equity in access.” Stated Paul Adams, Executive Director.
The challenges for rural patients needing accommodations are further compounded by housing scarcity in the very urban centers that host specialized care facilities. Pete Fry, a Vancouver City Councillor advocating for this initiative, adds, “The City of Vancouver is home to some of the top medical facilities and practitioners in the province, but we are also struggling with a real scarcity of affordable housing for people who live and work here, let alone people who are coming here for care. As we scale up urban development and delivery of housing, and as we anticipate an aging population, we have to explore ways to integrate healthcare into planning, and promoting equitable access for people who need medical treatment. The idea that some folk in our province cannot access their healthcare rights because of Vancouver’s housing crisis doesn’t sit well with me. We are all British Columbians, and we are all in it together. Housing is healthcare.”
This collaboration has resulted in a motion being adopted by the City of Vancouver Select Standing Committee on City Finance and Services on February 7h, 2024. It signals a commitment to the principle of healthcare equity, ensuring that access to healthcare services is not determined by geographical location and financial resources, but by the need for care.
For media inquires please contact us at info@bcruralhealth.org
