B.C. Health Care Needs Comprehensive Reform, Not Minor Adjustments

The government of British Columbia has announced preliminary findings from an administrative review of its health-care system, but many patients are left wondering if significant changes are on the horizon. The review, presented by the Eby government, highlighted some cost savings amounting to $60 million, which the government claims could be reinvested into frontline care. However, the chronic access issues affecting patients remain largely unaddressed.

Patients in British Columbia experienced a median wait time of 32.2 weeks for care last year, marking the longest wait on record. Additionally, those requiring diagnostic imaging faced median waits of over three months for a CT scan and nearly six months for an MRI. These staggering delays have prompted many B.C. residents to seek medical treatment outside Canada, underscoring the urgency of the situation.

Despite acknowledging these pressing issues, the Eby government has yet to propose any substantial reforms to the health-care system. The administrative review primarily focused on eliminating bureaucratic inefficiencies and creating a new shared service model to reduce administrative overlap among health regions. While these measures may streamline operations, they are unlikely to enhance patient care or access.

Rethinking Health Care Funding

To truly address the challenges facing its health-care system, British Columbia could look to successful models in countries such as Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. These nations provide timely medical care and have more resources available, often while spending comparably or less than Canada on health care.

One key difference lies in the funding structure for hospitals. Currently, B.C. allocates a lump-sum budget to hospitals at the beginning of each fiscal year. This model creates disincentives for hospitals to treat more patients, as each new patient is perceived as a financial burden on the budget. By contrast, countries with more effective health-care systems typically reimburse hospitals based on the number of patients treated and the complexity of their conditions. This approach transforms each patient into a potential revenue source, encouraging hospitals to increase patient volume and improve care.

Research indicates that reforming hospital payment structures can lead to increased care volume, reduced costs per admission, and, crucially for British Columbians, shorter wait times. Lessons can be drawn not only from international examples but also from British Columbia’s own pilot project that tested this payment model from 2010 to 2013.

The lack of groundbreaking changes in the wake of the Eby government’s administrative review suggests that patients should not anticipate immediate improvements in their access to health care. Without a shift from administrative adjustments to comprehensive reforms, residents may continue to endure lengthy waits and seek alternatives outside the province.

Mackenzie Moir, a Senior Policy Analyst with the Fraser Institute, emphasizes the need for the B.C. government to prioritize meaningful reform. Until then, patients in British Columbia will likely remain at the mercy of a health-care system that has yet to fully embrace effective change.