Health & Healthcare platforms

Here's what the BC 2024 parties are promising.

Cancer care and cancer risks

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BC NDP

  • Expand diagnostic capacity for cervical cancer
  • Make it easier for people without a family doctor to access colon, breast, and lung screening services
  • Extend hours of operation for radiation and systemic therapy at regional cancer centres
  • Provide more access to diagnostic PET and CT scans
  • Increase BC Cancer's Indigenous workforce

    "We’ll increase BC Cancer’s Indigenous workforce and deliver high-quality, culturally safe cancer care for Indigenous people, families and communities." — An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

  • Expand clinical trials at all regional centres and cancer research facilities
  • Expand the virtual oncology nursing line and hire more doctors and clinicians

BC Conservatives

  • Invest in education and awareness programming, enhanced screening options, and expanded treatment research at UBC for cervical cancer

    "Invest in cervical cancer prevention and research through education and awareness programming, enhanced screening options, expanded treatment research at UBC, and making the HPV vaccine free to all women." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

  • Make the HPV vaccine free to all women
  • Work with OVCARE researches to identify resources needed to increase their impact

    "Build on the success of OVCARE, a made-in-BC global leader in ovarian cancer research. We will work with OVCARE researchers to identify the resources needed to increase the impact of its world-leading research." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

BC Greens

  • Make all vaccines, including the HPV vaccine, available to everyone, at no cost
  • Remove sales of tobacco from all pharmacies
  • Ban all advertising of vaping and nicotine products

Diagnostic and procedure wait-times

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We don't have any BC NDP policies on Diagnostic and procedure wait-times.

BC Conservatives

  • If wait-times exceed a set limit, patients would be reimbursed for accessing care at a pre-approved facility out-of-province

    "After a brief consultation period, the Conservative Party of BC will:

    1. Implement the Patients First Wait Time Guarantee for select diagnostics and surgical procedures.

    If diagnostic or medical procedures exceed medically recommended wait times, patients would be able to access care at a pre-approved facility out-of-province and be re-imbursed according to a set fee schedule. A similar policy (Cross Border Directive) has been helping patients across the European Union since 2013."

    conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Pay for patients to access specific priority procedures and diagnostic services at non-governmental clinics

    "The Conservative Party of BC will:

    1. Pay for patients in the public system to receive quality health care services in non-governmental clinics for specific priority procedures and diagnostic services.

    We will get people off waiting lists and into operating rooms and diagnostic clinics for services like MRIs and priority surgeries. It makes no sense for non-government health facilities to sit idle when they could be contracted to help BC patients right now."

    conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

BC Greens

  • Create a single-entry team-based model for surgery referrals

    "Centralize referrals for surgeries and team-based models of non-surgical and pre-surgical care by introducing a single-entry model, reducing wait times and supporting patients more effectively." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

Drugs and addiction

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BC NDP

  • Provide individually-tailored, publicly-funded addiction treatment and support, accessible through a single phone number province-wide

    "Getting people with addictions the right care in the right place when they’re ready for treatment with individually tailored, publicly funded addiction treatment and support, from detox to after-care, accessible through a single phone number across the entire province." — An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

  • Increase drug prevention education in BC schools

    "Helping prevent the cycle of addiction by strengthening drug prevention education in BC schools. Built around providing supportive training and resources to all school staff, this ap- proach is aimed at creating opportunities for children and youth to be engaged about how dangerous and toxic drugs are. And done in ways that are appropriate for their age and grade, and maximizes their odds of making good choices to protect themselves and their friends." — An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

  • Support First Nations treatment centres and Indigenous-led programming
  • Fund more at-home addiction treatment services
  • Create residential treatment options that provide direct supports to parents undergoing addiction treatment

    "Removing barriers to treatment and keep families together through the recovery process by establishing residential treatment options that provide direct supports to parents undergoing addiction treatment." — An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

  • Build a second Red Fish Healing Centre and satellite facilities to provide treatment beds for mental health and substance use disorders

    "Expanding specialized treatment beds for people from across the province with both mental health and substance use disorders by building a second Red FishHealing Centre and additional “satellite” facilities." — An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

  • Involuntarily commit people with brain injuries, severe mental health illnesses, and addictions

    "Providing secure, supportive and dignified care for people in BC whose struggles with brain injuries, severe mental health illness and addiction require intensive care.

    By opening up secure facilities to provide secure care under the Mental Health Act, we can deliver help to people who are potentially a danger to themselves or others — so that rather than often ending up in and out of prison, they will be in a physically and culturally safe environment receiving the care they need."

    An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

  • Build an Addictions Treatment Centre for construction workers
  • Expand availability of nasal naloxone to pharmacies province-wide
  • Set up designated mental health units in correctional centres to provide rapid treatment for mental health and addiction challenges

    "Breaking the chain of addictions leading to crime by setting up designated mental health units in correctional centres to provide rapid treatment for people with mental health and addiction challenges being held on remand or sentenced to custody by the courts." — An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

BC Conservatives

  • End drug decriminalisation
  • Work with Indigenous leaders to develop treatment and recovery programmes within First Nations communities

    "We will work with Indigenous leaders to develop treatment and recovery programs available within First Nations communities. Individuals undergoing treatment for health challenges including addiction, should have the option of receiving the support they need close to home, in a familiar and culturally appropriate environment." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Maximally crack down on criminals importing and distributing drugs

    "Do everything in its power to crack-down on criminals who import and distribute deadly drugs like fentanyl." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Work with the federal government to improve border integrity
  • Expand access to addiction and mental health supports inside the justice and correctional systems

    "Integrate treatment into the correctional healthcare systems: When someone with a debilitating addiction problem arrives at a hospital or is taken into custody, we will offer or require immediate access to evidence-based addiction treatments. We won’t allow people to fall through the cracks anymore."— Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

    "Expand access to addiction and mental health supports for individuals in the justice and correctional systems."— Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

  • Work with all levels of government to reinstate full and reliable funding for RCMP-led Waterfront Joint Forces Operations to secure ports

    "Secure our ports by working with the Port and all 3 levels of government to reinstate full and reliable funding for the RCMP-led Waterfront Joint Forces Operations, and expand the number of officers on the team." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Use regulatory tools to crack down on fentanyl precursor materials
  • Appoint an Addictions Specialist with cross-ministerial authority

    "Appoint an Addictions Specialist with cross-ministerial authority to oversee the BC government’s response to the addiction public health emergency." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

  • End safe supply
  • Shut down overdose prevention sites that don't abide by strict standards

    "Hold overdose prevention sites accountable: As a temporary and emergency measure, some existing overdose prevention sites may be required. Unlike Eby, we will not hesitate to shut-down any site that refuses to abide by strict standards of conduct. No more free-for-all drug use near schools and playgrounds, no more spilling-out onto residential streets." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

  • Make it easy to connect virtually with an addiction specialist and start treatment

    "Establish a Virtual Opioid Dependency Program: Across the province, we will make it easy for anyone to connect virtually with addiction specialists and start treatment without delay." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

  • Fund abstinence-based treatment and recovery options

    "Fund abstinence-based treatment and recovery as an option available to anyone." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

  • Ensure wide availability of nasal Naloxone

    "Ensure wide availability of Nasal Naloxone: Free and accessible, province- wide, because saving lives must come first." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

  • Provide seamless and monitored transitions from detox to outpatient or inpatient care

    "Close the gap between detox and care: The current system lets people fall into dangerous gaps between detox and treatment. We will provide seamless and monitored transitions from detox to outpatient or inpatient care." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

  • Integrate drug treatment services into supportive housing facilities

    "Housing with treatment: No more warehousing or tent cities. Current and future supportive housing facilities must be integrated with healthcare services as an integral part of their programming, not as an afterthought or absent altogether." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

  • Build 12-month live-in recovery communities, and build specialised housing for people with anoxic brain injuries due to drug use

    "Build recovery communities: We will build regional recovery communities that will provide professional care and guidance to those recovering from addictions. The program will allow up to 12-month live-in participation as well as a subsequent guidance program to assist in post treatment housing, career, and personal counseling." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

    "Build specialized housing for complex needs: We will establish housing for those with anoxic brain injuries due to drug use, who cannot thrive in traditional treatment environments." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

  • Involuntarily commit people with addiction who are unable to make life-saving decisions on their own

    "Enact “Christian’s Law” for compassionate intervention: We will introduce involuntary treatment legislation for individuals with addiction who are unable to make life-saving decisions on their own. After consultation with his family, the law will be named after Christian DeSousa, a young man who lost his life to drugs after struggling with addiction since age 13. The NDP government refused to place Christian in involuntary treatment that his mother pleaded for, repeatedly." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

BC Greens

  • Regulate substance use treatment

    "Create an evidence-based standard of care for all substance use treatment services, informed by experts and community leaders." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

    "Ensure that individuals working on the frontlines and those with lived experience of substance use are valued in decision-making processes." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Require that service providers give comprehensive data and robust reporting on outcomes to receive public funding

    "Regulate substance use treatment in BC, and ensure that any public funding for treatment comes with a requirement that the service provider gives comprehensive data and robust reporting on outcomes." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Require all public hospitals to have spaces for safe, supervised consumption of substances, including by inhalation

    "Require all public hospitals to include spaces for safe, supervised consumption of substances, with capacity for inhalation." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Ensure all shelters that allow substance use have spaces for safe inhalation
  • Expand supervised consumption services and evaluate mobile overdose prevention services

    "Continue the expansion of supervised consumption services and evaluate mobile overdose prevention services to reduce access barriers." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Extend service hours for overdose prevention sites, aiming for 24-hour availability

    "Work with providers to extend service hours for overdose prevention sites, aiming for 24-hour availability." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Allocate annual funding for existing drug-checking services, and expand drug-checking services to in underserved areas

    "Allocate annual funding for existing drug-checking services to ensure their sustainability." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Mandate all schools provide evidence-based, age-appropriate information on drugs and substance use
  • Expand the range of substances available through prescribed safer supply and Opioid Agonist Treatment
  • Expand prescribing of diacetylmorphine

    "Begin the expansion of diacetylmorphine prescribing based on evidence from the NAOMI trials." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Evaluate a demedicalised model for regulated alternatives to the toxic drug supply
  • Work with pharmaceutical companies to manufacture diacetylmorphine and intranasal naloxone in BC
    1. "Partner with health professionals and pharmaceutical companies to create a made-in-BC solution for diacetylmorphine production.
    2. Provide funding for BC pharmaceutical companies to manufacture intranasal naloxone locally."

    BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Match investments in bed-based treatment care with community-based outpatient substance use treatment services
  • Work with local governments and the federal government to pursue decriminalisation, with safe consumption sites and housing available

    "Collaborate with local partners and the federal government to pursue decriminalization, ensuring the development of necessary services like safe consumption sites and housing." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

Emergency wait-times

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BC NDP

  • Build more Urgent & Primary Care Centres in high-demand areas, and expand hours of UPCCs to include nights and weekends

    "Getting you faster urgent care closer to home and taking pressure off emergency rooms by building more UPCCs (Urgent & Primary Care Centres) in high demand areas and the hours of UPCCs to include nights and weekends. UPCCs are doing their job — since the first one opened in 2018, our 39 centres have collectively handled millions of visits in the past year." — An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

We don't have any BC Conservatives policies on Emergency wait-times.
We don't have any BC Greens policies on Emergency wait-times.

Family doctors and primary care

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BC NDP

  • Expand how pharmacists can prescribe medications, refer, and offer testing for routine conditions

    "Saving you a trip to the doctor for more common conditions so you can get better faster. We will expand how pharmacists can prescribe medications, refer and offer testing for routine conditions – like strep throat or UTI testing. This means routine illnesses can be tested for and treated quickly and without a doctor’s appointment, freeing up primary care providers’ time for more patients." — An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

BC Conservatives

  • Consult with primary care providers on finding efficiencies and optimisations

    "Comprehensive primary care led by a family physician improves patient outcomes. The Conservative Party of BC will immediately consult and work with physicians and other primary health providers (e.g., physician assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners) on ways to maximize the number of people a family doctor’s office can see. This will support the reported nearly 1 million British Columbians without a family doctor to get off a waitlist and into a primary healthcare clinic.

    To meet the current and future demand, increasing the number of family physicians is important but will not be enough on its own. It is critical that we work together to look at ways to optimize the utilization and efficiency of our primary healthcare providers, including the use of modern tools and technologies to reduce administrative burden, track and optimize staffing, and ultimately improve patient outcomes." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Ensure more residents of rural areas can access telehealth and digital diagnostic tools

    "Ensuring that more British Columbians in rural areas are able to access updated types of care like telehealth and digital diagnostic tools." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

BC Greens

  • Establish an integrated community health centre in every riding, with 93 health centres in the first year

    "The BC Greens commit to establishing an integrated community health centre in every riding in the province. The ‘Dogwood Model’ is based on former Minister of Health Hon. Jane Philpott’s Periwinkle Model. It focuses on ensuring everyone has a primary care home - a place where they belong, where they feel at home, where they will go for most of their healthcare needs, and where they have a regular provider—a family physician or nurse practitioner.

    The Dogwood Model provides several advantages for both practitioners and patients; it has easy referral models, so patients can receive care from the expert that best meets their need, be it a physiotherapist or a dietician. It places the administrative burden on the administrative professionals, rather than the health staff, ensuring they can focus their energies on healthcare, and providing the benefits of being a staff member—including health benefits and paid vacation and parental leave."

    BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

Health administration

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BC NDP

  • Fully review the Health Authorities structure with the goal of reducing costs

    "We will complete a full review of Health Authorities with the goal of driving down costs and streamlining overhead and administration, putting those savings to work delivering more front-line services to you." — An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

  • Create a unified province-wide system for rehabilitation, imaging, and procedures

    "We will deliver unified access to provincial health care resources. Rather than having rehabilitation, imaging and procedures fragmented across regions, a unified province-wide access system would reduce wait times and give better access to health care for all patients, especially in rural areas." — An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

  • Transition away from faxes to digital systems

    "We will move to digital delivery. We will axe the fax, remove unnecessary paperwork, and speed up prescription, referral and other services." — An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

  • Work with health care professionals to improve the flow of health records and data

    "We will work with health care professionals to find new ways of improving the flow of health records and data, making health care work better for you – particularly when you have multiple health care providers." — An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-0

BC Conservatives

  • Fund hospitals, health authorities, and non-governmental facilities by how many patients they treat, instead of in block grants

    "Instead of simply throwing money at health facilities and hoping for the best (the “block grant” model), the Conservative Party will implement what has effectively worked well in European countries and Quebec – a policy known as “activity-based funding”.

    This will see hospitals, Regional Health Authorities, and/or other non-government facilities funded based on their output – each time they treat patients for specific diagnostic and priority procedures, they receive additional funds. This approach incentivizes providers to be more efficient and treat as many patients as possible."

    conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Increase tracking and publication of key metrics like wait-time

    "Ensuring that we track key metrics for all parts of the healthcare journey. We will expand current tracking of the time from the visit to a specialist to the surgery. We will expand this tracking to include the wait time to see a specialist." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

    "Identifying additional performance metrics for the system and ensuring that the progress is tracked and reported to British Columbians in an accessible and understandable manner." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Require health authorities to annually report cases of patients dying while waiting for surgery
  • Run a Health Services Performance Review to identify potential savings
  • Remove siloing of regional health authorities from the Ministry of Health

    "Drawing on best governance practices from other jurisdictions to break down silos between the Regional Health Authorities and the Ministry. This enables the implementation of Integrated Operations Centres at the provincial and zone level and allow the ability to track and manage wait times and optimize resources in real time." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

BC Greens

  • Work towards creating a single health authority for the province, alongside the First Nations Health Authority

    "Review the Health Authority model, with a focus on creating a single health authority for province, alongside the First Nations Health Authority, which will focus on addressing systemic racism and improving Indigenous life expectancy." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Review the Procurement Services Act to ensure contracts are awarded based on expertise and community relationships, not just cost

    "Review the Procurement Services Act to ensure contracts are awarded based on expertise and relationships with communities, not just cost." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

Health staffing

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BC NDP

  • Forgive tuition loans of health professionals who commit to long-term BC residency

    "Train, hire and keep more doctors, nurses and other health professionals with a practice-in-BC guarantee. Last year, in addition to the doctors we added, we also hired 6,300 nurses and now have the fastest-growing nurse workforce in the country. And we’re going to keep that momentum going so we continue to lower nurse- to-patient ratios, in part, through a new program that forgives the tuition loans of health professionals in return for a long- term BC residency guarantee." — An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

  • Require regulatory colleges to grant provisional licenses immediately to Canadian-trained providers and within 6 weeks for others

    "Get out-of-province health care providers delivering care sooner by requiring BC’s health regulatory colleges to provide provisional licences immediately to Canadian-trained providers and within six weeks for providers from approved jurisdictions, while we continue to improve processing times overall and provide more transparency on licensing timelines." — An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

  • Add 48 new medical residency positions by 2028
  • Provide targeted tuition assistance to help with regional shortages of some healthcare professionals

    "Address regional shortages of critical health care professionals – like labratory, imaging and cardiology technologists, psychologists and pharmacists — through targeted tuition assistance."— An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

BC Conservatives

  • Rehire healthcare workers who didn't take COVID vaccines
  • Review and expand existing programmes to incentivise doctors and nurses to work in high-need communities
  • Ensure a path for Healthcare Assistants and LPNs to upskill

    "Nurses that want to improve their credentials should have flexible options for career training. As experienced professionals retire, our system will need to replace this expertise. We will ensure that front line staff like Healthcare Assistants and Licensed Practical Nurses that want to upskill their credentials have a path that ensures they can both support our healthcare system and advance their careers." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Repeal the Health Professions and Occupations Act

    "Immediately repealing the Health Professions and Occupations Act (Bill C-36) to reduce the unnecessary red tape, political and ideology control that the NDP have imposed on the healthcare system.

    1. The front lines understand and know their professions better than government. We want to work with them to establish legislation that ensures that the oversight of medical professions is neither politicized, nor needlessly restrictive and/or government regulated."

    conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Present early offers and multi-year employment contracts to keep BC-educated medical professionals in the province

    "Present early offers and enter in multi-year employment contracts with BC educated medical professionals (pending successful program completion) to incentivize and encourage graduates to remain in the province." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Increase residency spots for medical students who commit to practising in high-need areas post-graduation
  • Create new spots in medical schools reserved for BC students

    "Create new spots in BC medical schools reserved specifically for BC students. Students from British Columbia are more likely to want to practice in communities closer to home." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Work with post-secondary institutions to expand hands-on experience opportunities

    "Work with our post-secondary institutions to expand opportunities for medical students to get hands-on experience while completing their education. We need to build connections between students who seek to work in healthcare specifically in high need positions and communities (e.g., Healthcare Assistants)." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Provide incentives to work in small municipalities and rural communities
  • Expand domestic and international recruitment efforts

    "Expanding both domestic and international recruitment efforts to fill urgent needs within the system.

    o We cannot improve access if we do not have the necessary staff. Out-of-province and international recruitment can provide an immediate stopgap to address staffing shortfalls.

    o Out-of-province and international professionals that come to BC to practice in high need jurisdictions will have access to financial incentives."

    conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Nominate and accelerate immigration applications for medical professionals

    "Taking all constitutionally permitted steps within the immigration system to nominate and accelerate applications for medical professionals.

    o The federal government has had the ability to expedite applications for international medical professionals, but they have failed to do so.

    o We will work with the federal government to ensure that applicants are able to acquire the necessary credentials to begin practicing in Canada immediately.

    o We will identify ways to accelerate credential recognition to ensure that no British Columbian has skills that go to waste.

    o We will build on the model of the Atlantic Physicians Registry and work with other provinces to simplify processes for medical professionals to move between jurisdictions."

    conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

BC Greens

  • Review and remove barriers for externally-trained health professionals from registering in BC
  • Increase funding for nurses in the public system
  • End reliance on agency nurses
  • Require health authorities to share data for workforce planning

    "Require health authorities to collect and share data for workforce planning, ensuring alignment with educational institutes." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Review loan forgiveness and paid practicums for all healthcare students to incentivise staffing and support training

    "Review loan forgiveness and paid practicums for all healthcare students to incentivize sufficient staffing and support training." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Regulate radiographers and medical imaging technologists

    "Regulate radiographers and medical imaging technologists so they can work to the full scope of their practice." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Reinstate the Provincial Chief Nursing Officer role to advocate for nurses
  • Adopt and implement the "Nursing Retention Toolkit: Improving the Working Lives of Nurses in Canada"

Hospitals

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BC Conservatives

  • Fund hospitals, health authorities, and non-governmental facilities by how many patients they treat, instead of in block grants

    "Instead of simply throwing money at health facilities and hoping for the best (the “block grant” model), the Conservative Party will implement what has effectively worked well in European countries and Quebec – a policy known as “activity-based funding”.

    This will see hospitals, Regional Health Authorities, and/or other non-government facilities funded based on their output – each time they treat patients for specific diagnostic and priority procedures, they receive additional funds. This approach incentivizes providers to be more efficient and treat as many patients as possible."

    conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Increase security and ban illicit drug use in hospitals
We don't have any BC Greens policies on Hospitals.

Long-term care

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BC NDP

  • Build 5,400 new and replacement beds at 32 long-term care facilities
  • Standardise wages, benefits, and working conditions for staff across both public and private long-term care homes

    "By providing common wages, benefits and working conditions for staff across both public and private long-term care homes, we can make sure all facilities will be staffed by caring, well trained and qualified workers held to a consistent provincial standard of care for all seniors." — An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

BC Conservatives

  • Add 5,000 long-term care beds by 2030
  • Commission an expert review on improving long-term care practices and infrastructure

BC Greens

  • Increase the number of publicly-funded long-term care beds by 10% each year

    "We will increase the number of publicly funded long-term care beds by 10% each year to meet the growing demand for senior care services." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Implement the recommendations from the Senior's Advocate's report

    "Enact the recommendations of the Seniors Advocate’s report “Billions More Reasons to Care” by ensuring that funding for direct care is spent on direct care and not on operational or administrative costs." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Enhance transparency of monitoring and reporting and standardise approaches for publicly-funded care homes

    "Enhance the accuracy and transparency of monitoring and reporting for publicly funded care homes, with a focus on compliance and the allocation of resources for non-direct care tasks.

    Define ‘profit’ and adopt a standardized approach to assessing costs like mortgages, head office allocations, management fees, subcontracting, executive compensation, and the financing of other businesses." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

Mental health

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BC NDP

  • Create a $50M Community Mental Health Resilience Fund to expand mental health counselling care province-wide

    "Expanding mental health counselling care across BC by fueling the vital work of community-based mental health organizations through a new $50 million Community Mental Health Resilience Fund." — An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

  • Add Foundry Centres in ten more communities to provide youth mental, physical, and sexual health and addiction services

    "Delivering supportive, safe and confidential mental health and addiction services to youth and their families. We’ve fast-tracked the development of Foundry Centres for Youth in communities across BC. And they’re working well, with more than 17,500 people aged 12-24 and their families accessing critical mental health, addiction, and physical and sexual health services. We are moving forward with Foundry Centres in ten more communities — quadrupling the number since 2017." — An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

  • Involuntarily commit people with brain injuries, severe mental health illnesses, and addictions

    "Providing secure, supportive and dignified care for people in BC whose struggles with brain injuries, severe mental health illness and addiction require intensive care.

    By opening up secure facilities to provide secure care under the Mental Health Act, we can deliver help to people who are potentially a danger to themselves or others — so that rather than often ending up in and out of prison, they will be in a physically and culturally safe environment receiving the care they need."

    An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

  • Fast-track expansion of civilian-led, mental health-focused crisis response teams province-wide

    "Delivering supportive, safe, quality care when a mental health crisis is reported to 911 by fast-tracking the expansion of civilian-led and health-focused crisis response teams across the province." — An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

BC Conservatives

  • Set strict wait-time regulations for accessing care for critical mental health conditions

    "Enforcing maximum wait standards by establishing strict wait-time regulations for critical mental health conditions like schizophrenia, psychosis, and eating disorders, ensuring timely access to care. Waiting for months under the status quo is unacceptable." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

  • Involuntarily commit people who pose a threat to themselves or others

    "Safety for patients and communities by making sure individuals who pose a threat to themselves or others are receiving treatment in secure facilities – not on the streets. The Mental Health Act and involuntary care practices will be reviewed so BC will never have a repeat of Eby’s refusal to place high-risk individuals in secure treatment." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

  • Increase treatment opportunities that foster collaborative engagement between patients and families

    "Supporting increased family involvement by increasing treatment opportunities that foster collaborative engagement between patients and families throughout the continuum of care. This holistic approach not only enhances recovery, but also strengthens family bonds." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

  • Appoint an Independent Representative for Mental Health to provide oversight, public reporting, and accountability

    "Mental health accountability by establishing an Independent Representative for Mental Health to provide oversight, public reporting, and accountability in our health system. More transparency will result in better outcomes for all British Columbians." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

  • Repurpose and redevelop the Coquitlam Riverview site as a centre of excellence for mental healthcare and addictions recovery

    "Repurpose and redevelop the Coquitlam Riverview site into a centre of excellence for mental healthcare and addictions recovery, including new secure treatment capacity. We will seek federal partnerships to expedite development and navigate complexities related to the Canada Health Act." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

  • Build secure housing units for treating individuals who pose a risk to themselves, staff, or other patients

    "Build secure housing units to create safe facilities for the treatment of individuals who pose a risk to themselves, staff, or other patients. This will address urgent care needs while prioritising safety for all." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

  • Invest in mental health infrastructure in underserved rural and interior communities

    "Strengthen mental health services across the province by identifying rural and interior communities with the greatest unmet needs, and making the necessary investments in mental health infrastructure to ensure fair access for all British Columbians." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

  • Integrate mental health response into the 911 system

    "Integrate mental health response into the 911 system, because a person in crisis should be able to receive support when it’s needed most. We will consult with medical experts and first responders to identify how to best improve rapid access to mental health support." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

  • Expand Peer-Assisted Care Teams to alleviate pressure on emergency services

    "Expand Peer-Assisted Care Teams to alleviate pressure on emergency services and provide immediate support to those in need." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

BC Greens

  • Integrate mental health as the 4th option in 911 emergency services, to accommodate crises that don't fit under ambulance, fire, or police

    "Integrate mental health as the fourth option in 911 emergency services to accommodate mental health crises that do not align with the traditional ambulance, fire or police options." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Double crisis line funding from $2.5M to $5M

    "Increase crisis line funding from $2.5 million to $5 million to enhance their capacity to manage diverted 911 calls, ensuring that mental health crises receive appropriate attention." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Invest $500K into creating consistent protocols for 911 operators, emergency responders, and mobile crisis teams

    "Establish provincial leadership and invest $500,000 to create consistent protocols for 911 operators, emergency responders, and mobile crisis teams to ensure coordinated and effective mental health crisis responses." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Expand the Peer Assisted Care Team programme to more communities, and extend service hours

    "Expand the PACT (Peer Assisted Care Team) program, which has been highly effective in three communities. Partner with local organizations to introduce PACTs in more communities and extend the service hours of existing teams." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Increase access to mental health care and support for first responders and their families

    "Increase access to mental health care and support for first responders and their families, including raising awareness about mental health tools and resources and reducing the stigma surrounding their use." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Add recruitment/retention initiatives for mental health workers, with rural living allowances, health & wellness benefits, & rental options

    "Implement recruitment and retention initiatives, similar to those used by municipalities for primary care practitioners, including rural living allowances, health and wellness benefits, and rental options to attract frontline mental health workers." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Do an All-Party review of the Mental Health Act

    "Undertake an All-Party review of the Mental Health Act and create a parliamentary working group that will oversee the implementation of the recommendations." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

    "We will appoint an all-party parliamentary committee to review and modernize the Mental Health Act. This will ensure alignment with the recommendations of the Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act and better protect individuals experiencing mental health crises." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Appoint an independent Mental Health Advocate

    "Create an Independent Office of the Mental Health Advocate—providing individual and systemic advocacy, aimed at improving mental health care systems in BC." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Fully regulate the psychotherapy profession

    "Commit to the full regulation of psychotherapy professions, including psychologists, counsellors, therapists, and social workers, to increase public protection, provide accountability, and legitimize these essential professions." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Collaborate with experts to develop evidence-based standards of care for all mental health and substance use treatment services

    "Collaborate with experts, including physicians, clinical psychologists, and psychiatrists, as well as individuals with lived experiences, to develop evidence-based standards of care for all mental health and substance use treatment services in BC." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Address the abrupt transition from pediatric to adult mental health care

    "Address the abrupt transition between pediatric and adult mental health care by ensuring seamless and effective connections to support services at all stages of life." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Improve systems of care for people with both mental illness, substance use disorders, and brain injuries

    "Improve systems of care for individuals with co-occurring mental illness, substance use disorders, and brain injuries, ensuring they receive integrated and comprehensive treatment." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Increase community-based services for people w/ eating disorders & create stepped-care models prioritising autonomy & self-directed recovery

    "Increase community-based services for individuals with eating disorders and develop stepped-care models that prioritize autonomy and self-directed recovery, with inpatient care available when necessary." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Cover six visits per year to a mental health professional such as a psychologist, for all British Columbians

    "Include six visits to a mental health professional, such as a psychologist, under the Medical Services Plan (MSP), ensuring early access to mental health support for all British Columbians." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Add 50% more community integration specialists to connect people to community-based supports and services

    "Expand the number of community integration specialists by 50%, helping more people connect to a wide range of community-based supports and services to meet their needs." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Develop arts-based and lands-based therapy programmes

    "Work with a diverse range of community partners, including Arts and Culture, Indigenous, Health, and Education experts, to develop comprehensive arts-based and land-based therapy programs that promote healing and wellbeing." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

Natal care

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BC NDP

  • Create a comprehensive strategy to improve maternity care

    "Create a comprehensive strategy to improve mater- nity care across the province that prioritizes new ways of supporting OBGYNs, family doctors and midwives in delivering care to their patients." — An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

BC Conservatives

  • Introduce 1 month of paid compassionate leave for women who suffer miscarriage

    "Introduce 1 month of paid compassionate leave for women who suffer miscarriage, ensuring women have the support and space needed to recover from miscarriage - without worrying about the pressures of work." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

  • Establish a midwife degree programme in Surrey

    "Establish a midwife degree program in Surrey: Working in partnership with an established post-secondary institution, we will establish a midwife degree program in Surrey to address the shortage of qualified midwives. Currently, the only midwife program in BC is located at UBC’s Point Grey campus." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

  • Start a 2-year degree conversion programme for nurses to become midwives

    "Launch a 2-year degree conversion program for nurses, allowing registered nurses to transition into midwifery and further strengthen our healthcare workforce." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

We don't have any BC Greens policies on Natal care.

Seniors

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BC NDP

  • Expand the Better at Home programme to provide chores around seniors houses, social meals, more transportation options, and peer support

    "Expanding the Better at Home program so more seniors get the support they need to remain in their homes as they age – while easing demand on long-term care homes. We’re now up to 93 community-based Better at Home programs across BC, providing chores around the house that keep seniors safe and happy. Our new investments expand the services this program offers, including social meals, more transportation options, and peer support." — An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

  • Expand the Hospital at Home programme

    "Expanding the Hospital at Home program so seniors with long term health conditions that require more intensive medical support don’t have to stay in hospital, freeing up beds and improving quality of life." — An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

  • Commit $324M over three years to programmes that help seniors live in their homes for longer

    "We’re doing this by committing $324 million over three years to boost programs that help seniors thrive in their homes and communities, instead of moving into care.

    This funding will hire more nurses, physiotherapists, health care assistants and home support workers – the people that help keep seniors happy, healthy and safe at home."

    An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

BC Conservatives

  • Increase tax credits for family caregivers
  • Expand respite care options and caregiver training programmes
  • Increase funding for home support services and remove daily user fees

    "Increase funding for home support services, eliminate daily user fees, and address the Better at Home program’s extensive waitlists." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Expand access to home care as the preferred alternative to long-term care
  • Provide financial assistance for crucial devices like glasses, mobility aids, and hearing aids
  • Double the number of Seniors' Community Parks

    "Double the number Seniors’ Community Parks so our elders can stay in shape with age-appropriate outdoor exercise equipment." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Cover the cost of the cost of the shingles vaccine and high-dose flue vaccines for seniors
  • Create a comprehensive, person-centred care pathway for dementia

    "Increase support and streamline care for seniors with dementia through a comprehensive, person-centered care pathway from early diagnosis to advanced stages." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Eliminate daily hospice care charges

BC Greens

  • Improve access to respite care and day programmes

    "We will improve access to respite care and day programs, ensuring that at-home care services are available for both medical care and assistance with daily tasks to support seniors and their caregivers." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Implement housing, health & human resource, home & community care, long-term care, and transportation strategies for seniors in rural areas
    1. "Develop and implement a Rural Seniors Housing Strategy to address the housing needs of seniors in rural communities.
    2. Develop and implement a Rural Health Human Resource Strategy to ensure adequate staffing and services for rural seniors.
    3. Develop and implement a Rural Seniors Home and Community Care Strategy to ensure accessible, high-quality home care for rural seniors.
    4. Develop and implement a Provincial Long-Term Care and Assisted Living Plan focused on achieving equity in care services across the province.
    5. Develop and implement a Provincial Rural Transportation Strategy to improve transportation access for rural seniors. "

    BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Create a clear dementia care pathway and dementia support strategy

    "• Establish a clear dementia care pathway and support family practitioners to do more early screening for dementia.

    • Develop a dementia support strategy, with a focus on cultural safety."

    BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Support family practitioners to do more early screening for dementia
  • Improve and promote the Provincial Travel Assistance Program and Hope Air

    "Improve and promote the Provincial Travel Assistance Program and Hope Air to support rural seniors in traveling to medical appointments and other critical services." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Expand the Home Improvement Assistance Program

    "Increase the scope of the Home Improvement Assistance Program, which provides eligible seniors, people with disabilities, and landlords with rebates of up to $20,000 per home for modifications that promote accessible, safe and independent living." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Audit Community Living BC to find gaps in service delivery

    "We will conduct an audit of Community Living BC (CLBC) to identify gaps in service delivery. Implement all audit recommendations to ensure that CLBC provides excellent service that meets the needs of those giving and receiving care." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Fund the Alzheimer's Society to run a campaign to reduce stigma and support early education

Sexual and reproductive health

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BC NDP

  • Expand access to reproductive health services
  • Expand midwives' scope of practice to include more services, including IUD insertion and prescribing Mifegymiso

BC Conservatives

  • Fund two rounds of IVF treatment

    "Funding two rounds of IVF treatment: We will increase support for couples seeking fertility treatments by providing funding for first- and second-round in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments, including for clinics outside BC until our capacity shortage is addressed."

  • Work with private sector experts to expand fertility clinics

    "Expanding IVF capacity in BC by working in partnership with private sector experts to expand capacity in fertility clinics, ensuring that couples can access timely and effective care."

BC Greens

  • Ensure all people can access reproductive health services, at a time and place that meets their needs

    "We commit to ensuring that all people can access reproductive health services, at a time and a place that meets their needs." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

Sick leave and doctor's notes

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BC NDP

  • Ban employers from requiring a doctor's note for short absences due to illness
We don't have any BC Conservatives policies on Sick leave and doctor's notes.

BC Greens

  • Ban employers from requiring a doctor's note for a short-term absence from work due to illness

Specialist care

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BC NDP

  • Expand the Travel Assistance Programme to include reimbursing car mileage, and cover travel expenses before they're due for payment

    "Bringing down out-of -pocket costs for people in rural British Columbia who need to travel for specialist health care services. We will expand the Travel Assistance Program (TAP BC) — which provides financial assistance If the specialist health care you need isn’t available in your community — to include mileage for your car. And we’ll cover your travel expenses before they’re due for payment, so you’re not paying out of pocket and waiting for a refund." — An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

We don't have any BC Conservatives policies on Specialist care.
We don't have any BC Greens policies on Specialist care.

Technology and health

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We don't have any BC NDP policies on Technology and health.

BC Conservatives

  • Review curricula for training health professionals with a mind to artificial intelligence

    "Conducting a thorough review of curricula to ensure congruency of the healthcare professional roles with present needs and future demands of emerging Artificially Intelligent Health Technologies (AIHTs)." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Develop a strategic plan for data and digital literacy and informatics skills within the healthcare workforce
  • Create a framework for using artificial intelligence in healthcare

    "Creating a framework for AIHT in BC that ensures all usage improves the care of patients either directly or indirectly by using health service resources more productively. Any cost savings will be reinvested in BC healthcare - modern technology will work to help reduce wait times."— conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

  • Prioritise protecting health data privacy and consent when implementing new technology

    "Ensuring that any introduction of any technology must be grounded in robust research evidence and a fit for purpose and framework that patients, public and staff can all trust. We will prioritize the importance of protecting privacy relating personal to health data and ensure health data cannot be disclosed without an individual’s full consent." — conservativebc.ca, retrieved 2024-10-08

We don't have any BC Greens policies on Technology and health.

Vaccines

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We don't have any BC NDP policies on Vaccines.

BC Conservatives

  • Make the HPV vaccine free to all women
  • Cover the cost of the cost of the shingles vaccine and high-dose flue vaccines for seniors

Well-being

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We don't have any BC NDP policies on Well-being.
We don't have any BC Conservatives policies on Well-being.

BC Greens

  • Develop a new British Columbia Wellbeing Framework

    "Establishing a British Columbia Wellbeing Framework that prioritizes the needs and perspectives of all British Columbians, with Indigenous communities at the center of its creation and implementation.

    1. Commit, in partnership with Indigenous and non-Indigenous leaders, to the development of a new British Columbia Wellbeing Framework."

    BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Make First Nations central to developing and implementing the Framework

    "Ensure that First Nations are central to the development and implementation of the Wellbeing Framework, fostering collaboration and respect." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Create a Centre of Excellence for developing the Framework

    "Create and fund a Centre of Excellence dedicated to developing the Wellbeing Framework, examining best practices and Indigenous wellbeing examples from other jurisdictions." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Require all Ministers to provide evidence on how their work contributes to increased well-being as part of each budget

    "Require all Ministers to provide evidence on how their work contributes to increasing wellbeing in British Columbia as part of each budget presentation." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Transition all performance measures in Ministry and Crown Agency service plans to align with the Framework

    "Transition all performance measures in Ministry and Crown Agency service plans to align with the Wellbeing Framework, ensuring accountability and transparency." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Require the Minister of Finance to report on improvements in well-being as part of each budget, as assessed by an external panel

    "Legislate a requirement for the Minister of Finance to report annually, as part of each budget, on improvements in wellbeing across 10, 30, and 100-year timescales, assessed by a panel of external experts, including First Nations peoples, ecologists, historians, economists, and sociologists." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

    "Create a set of indicators to survey the public, establish baseline measures, and track trends in overall wellbeing across British Columbia, with results shared publicly for transparency." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Include well-being considerations in land use planning and environmental assessments

    "Embed wellbeing considerations into land use planning and environmental assessments by utilizing a cumulative effects framework, prioritizing, expanding, and funding modern land use planning as well as Indigenous land use plans." — BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

  • Support pilot programmes for a four-day work week with interested businesses, and provide tax credits for businesses who participate

    "Explore flexible work arrangements to improve productivity and wellbeing with tax credits to the companies that participate

    • Support pilot programs for a four-day work week by partnering with interested businesses to collect and track data on productivity, employee wellbeing, and employer satisfaction."

    BC Greens 2024 Platform, retrieved 2024-10-09

Women's health

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BC NDP

  • Provide free menopause treatment with Hormone Replacement Therapy

    "Providing free menopause treatment with HRT to help protect women against heart disease and osteoporosis, and reduce the risk of colon cancer." — An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

  • Expand midwives' scope of practice to include more services, including IUD insertion and prescribing Mifegymiso
  • Expand diagnostic capacity for cervical cancer
  • Set up rapid access cancer clinics for breast and ovarian cancer
  • Create a comprehensive strategy to improve maternity care

    "Create a comprehensive strategy to improve mater- nity care across the province that prioritizes new ways of supporting OBGYNs, family doctors and midwives in delivering care to their patients." — An Action Plan for You, retrieved 2024-10-07

BC Conservatives

  • Invest in education and awareness programming, enhanced screening options, and expanded treatment research at UBC for cervical cancer

    "Invest in cervical cancer prevention and research through education and awareness programming, enhanced screening options, expanded treatment research at UBC, and making the HPV vaccine free to all women." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

  • Make the HPV vaccine free to all women
  • Work with OVCARE researches to identify resources needed to increase their impact

    "Build on the success of OVCARE, a made-in-BC global leader in ovarian cancer research. We will work with OVCARE researchers to identify the resources needed to increase the impact of its world-leading research." — Common Sense Change for British Columbia, retrieved 2024-10-15

We don't have any BC Greens policies on Women's health.


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