The Ministry of Health and Doctors of BC have reached a
tentative agreement that respects government’s bargaining mandate and
addresses key health-care issues facing British Columbians.

“I’d like to thank Doctors of BC for coming to the table and
negotiating an agreement that addresses important health-care issues
facing B.C. families while meeting government’s need to be fiscally
responsible with taxpayer dollars,” said Health Minister Terry Lake.
“Over the past year, we have worked hard with doctors in this province
to collaborate on strategies that improve physician services for
patients and this agreement continues this work.”

The proposed five-year agreement runs until March 31, 2019, and covers
approximately 10,000 specialists and family physicians in the province.
Over the coming weeks, Doctors of BC will work toward ratifying this
agreement with their membership. Ratification is expected to conclude
in early December.

The new agreement includes provisions to help address some of B.C.’s
most pressing health-care challenges, as identified in the ministry’s
strategic plan, Setting Priorities for the BC Health Care System.
Funding from the agreement will target: improving access to primary
care; increasing health-care services in rural and remote communities;
and continuing to recruit and retain both family physicians and
specialists.