B.C.’s ‘transformational’ agreement with family doctors kicks in

B.C.’s health minister and the newly elected president of the Doctors of B.C. describe a new agreement for compensating family physicians that began Wednesday as “transformational” for patient care in the province.

Health Minister Adrian Dix and Dr. Joshua Greggain said the agreement should bolster the ranks of family doctors and improve care for residents, especially those who are struggling to find a primary-care physician.

“I believe it’s the most significant reform to health care in my lifetime,” said Dix.

The revamped care model was announced in October and moves away from the “broken” fee-for-service model in place for decades, said Dix in a briefing from downtown Vancouver.

He said more than 1,000 doctors had already signed on in the first few hours of the opt-in process, and he expects that number to grow rapidly in the weeks ahead.