Health Minister, Adrian Dix (stock photo courtesy of the B.C. Government / Flickr)

By Liam Verster

Health science professionals

B.C. strengthening health care workforce with $155M investment

May 1, 2024 | 1:32 PM

The province is funding numerous initiatives to bolster certain segments of the health care workforce.

Health Minister, Adrian Dix announced a provincial investment to strengthen the health care system, with a special focus on health sciences and allied health care professionals.

“To support the implementation of the B.C. Health Human Resources strategy and the Allied Health Strategic Plan, the province is investing $155.7-million in initiatives that will retain and recruit allied health and clinical support staff,” Dix said.

“This includes up-to $73.1-million for retention and recruitment incentives to expand the Provincial Rural Retention Incentive and provide signing bonuses for those who fill high-need vacancies. These are critical opportunities for us to recruit the health sciences professionals that we need.”

Enderby, Revelstoke, Merritt, and Golden are among the communities where a health care worker would be eligible for the Provincial Rural Retention Incentive.

Health and Social Transfer Payments

B.C. to receive nearly $10B in Federal Transfers

Dec 24, 2024

Year in Review

Local MP reflects on bill passed in 2024, but also struggles Canadians faced

Dec 24, 2024

Drugs, Loaded Handgun Found in Stolen Car

Kelowna RCMP seize firearm, weapon in stolen vehicle

Dec 23, 2024

The minister added $15-million will be provided over three years for an Allied Health Clinical Mentorship program to support the career development of newly graduated health care workers and internationally trained professionals.

A total of $60-million will also be provided to the health care unions to develop professional development and mental health and wellness supports.

Up to $6 million will be spent on training initiatives, such as tuition credits, bursaries to offset exam fees and licensing, and a new employee-sponsored Earn and Learn program.

These initiatives are part of the Allied Health Strategic Plan, which outlines a total of 42 actions to bolster the work force.

Allied health workers include specialists such as occupational therapists, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, physiotherapists, respiratory therapists, sonographers, and speech language pathologists.

Health sciences professionals include cardiac technologists, clinical counselors, community health workers, anesthesia assistants, medical laboratory assistants and technologists, and community support workers.

While most public discussion on health care involves doctors and nurses Dix said “allied health care workers are central to every aspect of the health care system,” and investing in attracting and retaining these workers will help support the health care system as B.C.’s population continues to grow.

“The demand for services is high. Our health sciences professionals have been exceptional on the front line, in particular during the COVID-19 pandemic, but in other times [as well], and we have to provide supports to ensure we have those professionals in the future,” Dix remarked.

Reaction to the announcement was positive from unions.

“I hear every day from CT technologists, lab technologists, radiation therapists, PET technologists, respiratory therapists and many other specialized health professionals struggling through dire shortages and crushing workload,” Kane Tse, president, Health Sciences Association, said.

“On their behalf, HSA welcomes these initiatives and we believe they will help increase health-science professional recruitment in rural communities and in urban facilities facing the most severe shortages.”

Lynn Bueckert, interim secretary-business manager of the Hospital Employee’s Union, said they applaud the ministry’s expanding efforts to support public health-care services through the new measures.

“These additional tools, along with the government’s recent expansion of the provincial rural-retention incentives program to attract and retain workers from across the health-care team and the health-care access program that has brought 7,000 more care aides into the system, will continue to have a positive impact on the working and caring conditions in B.C.’s hospitals and long-term care homes,” Bueckert stated.