BC Conservative Party leader John Rustad has revealed his party’s plan to overhaul the entirety of the current healthcare system in BC.
According to Conservatives, the new ‘Patients First’ reforms would work to expand access, reduce wait times and support frontline staff.
They also say the new system would increase transparency and accountability.
“Our system is collapsing,” said Rustad.
“Throwing more money at this problem won’t solve it. We need to start putting Patients First through a new healthcare model.”
Rustad added that he would like to see less red tape and bureaucracy adding to patients’ wait times.
Specifically, the Conservatives say the Patients First healthcare proposal would aim to achieve “universal healthcare for everyone under a single-payer system that delivers care through both public and non-governmental facilities.”
However, BC’s Medical Services Plan (MSP) is already administered as a single-payer system with support from the Canadian government’s Medicare system.
Most notably, Rustad’s plan says it would implement a “Patient-Based Funding Model”, which would give patients a choice to access care sooner, but at a cost.
This type of model may impact wait times for those who cannot afford to pay extra for care.
Additionally, the Patients First plan says it would:
- Prioritize hiring of nurses, doctors, specialists, and other healthcare professionals
- Stop emergency room closures by hiring back workers who have left the industry and incentivizing rural and remote healthcare
- Increase security staff in hospitals
- Reduce administration staff through layoffs and in their place utilize modern tools and technology
- Repeal the NDP’s Health Professions and Occupations Act (Bill C-36), which dictates how regulated health professions’ colleges handle those under their watch
- Increase transparency of reporting on administrative cost, savings and services
- Implement new technologies like telehealth and digital diagnostic tools
- Conduct performance reviews and report publicly on spending
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“Our healthcare professionals are overworked, and our patients are underserved,” Rustad concluded.
“By putting patients first and supporting our frontline workers, we can build a healthcare system that is modern, efficient, and truly serves the people of British Columbia.”
This healthcare model will be part of the Conservatives upcoming provincial election platform. The election will be held on October 19th.
