Health minister says changes intended to improve accountability and oversight.
By Emily Fagan · CBC News
Changes to regulatory oversight for health-care professionals that come into effect Wednesday could cause doctors to retire early or leave the province, a group representing medical professionals has warned.
The new regulations, part of the Health Professions and Occupations Act passed in 2022, will create a new independent oversight office and discipline tribunal for health professionals accused of wrong
doing, overseen by officials appointed by the province.It’s a change that will impact a wide range of previously self-regulated professions, including doctors, dentists, pharmacists and psychologists.
The legislation came as a result of a 2018 review that found health professional colleges in B.C. showed “a lack of relentless focus on the safety of patients,” and recommended revising the regulatory process to increase its independence and
accountability. It’s sparked backlash from some groups and officials
representing health-care workers.
Doctors of B.C. president and family physician Adam Thompson said doctors have expressed wide-ranging fears about the legislation,
including that decisions can no longer be appealed to the B.C.
Supreme Court and that health-care regulations could be politicized by future governments due to the number of government appointees. There are aspects of the regulations that he supports – including stronger consequences for discrimination – but he worries how provincial appointees could change the regulatory process.
Rip up current system and start over, recommends review of B.C.’s professional health colleges
He said he’s heard from late-career doctors who are weighing this in their decision to potentially retire early, and worries it could lead others to leave the province.
“The risk to patients is that it’s going to become harder to get a family doctor, or the waitlist with specialists is going to get longer, or the access to specialty care is going to become worse,” Thompson said.
When asked about the potential for the regulations to cause health-care workers to retire early or leave the province – as Quebec saw in the wake of changes to its health-care system – B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne said the changes were in the best interest of the public and health-care professionals.
She says added oversight and accountability will improve the current systems. ”I recognize that this new act is a major overhaul of the regulatory system. It is the first in 30 years,” she said.
“For people in B.C., this means stronger protections, clearer processes, and greater confidence in the care that they receive.”
As for health-care professionals, Osborne said the changes would mean clearer expectations and support…
Source: cbc.ca/news/canada
