To be clear, I`m not an advocate of raising taxes to recruit doctors. What I do support and want more information on, is the possibility of establishing a flexible funding model for the *Hospital District, whereby, should the Hospital District chose to allocate some of the existing budget to fund a Primary Care Clinic, there is the option to do so.
The current challenges with physicians leaving the Oliver area are very concerning and we are talking with all stakeholders, including our new MLA, to find solutions/strategies to stop this trend and attract more doctors to the South Okanagan. I believe Team based healthcare, delivered through a Primary Care Clinic, is the key to providing the healthcare stability Oliver and SOGH are looking for – moving forward.
Mayor Martin Johansen
Over the weekend took the time to discuss this key issue in Oliver and the Southern Okanagan – a shortage of doctors. Talked to two members of the regional board Rick Knodel and Martin.
Rick said his concern was “why are young doctors not attracted to this area”
Martin stated that at least three doctors had left recently and many more poised to retire.
So what are the barriers… who is putting them up.
Ministry of Health? Interior Health? Doctors of BC (BCMA)?
None of the above are very candid about their position – I think it is called “silo” thinking. How to cover your backside from ??
Some young doctors may not want to come to a hick town – preferring a large hospital to gain experience and training.
Some young doctors may want to come here – but it seems they need to grease the wheels or something because of inexplicable reasons beyond my comprehension that their desires for a practice are not met.
Do we need a primary care clinic in Oliver or Osoyoos?
Why not just a lot more doctors and offices…. why would tax payers be needed to build a new building adjacent to the existing hospital?
I am baffled – weigh in the conversation……………
*For the record the Hospital District – an arm of the RDOS is there to fund 40 percent of capital costs not operations. So the provincial government and its policies on Primary Care Clinics is integral to this discussion.
Roly…. over to you.
neil seidler says
I hear from my sources that there will be two new Doctors coming to Osoyoos and one to Oliver in the new year. The waiting list is long for anyone waiting for or wanting a new doctor. So good luck getting one of the three coming. What I have noticed over the years is that we as a country seem to be educating more and more out of province and country people in the medical fields. They go back to their own countries or provinces to practice. This practice has in part led to the doctor shortage and many other shortages in our medical field. We have shot ourselves in the foot so to speak with our reputation for being so nice and giving. We owe those still here working in all areas of the medical profession a bigger thank you than we can ever give them or that they deserve. Over the years I have seen governments waste and throw away tax dollars that they pry from our hands with higher and higher taxes or new taxes and new fees to make up for the waste and shortfall. Do we need the necessities to have a better life or do we need the frivolous things that don’t mean a crap in the long run. We as a society need to go back to the basics and stop living beyond our means or needs.
Publisher: Nice rant Neil
The point is any person who attends a medical college/university to get a medical degree and does avail her self him self of free tax subsidies – should – sign a document – even the BC born – you must serve the people of BC for five years.
and all say AYE
Bill Eggert says
Not to disagree with Neil’s point of view, but I am aware of 3 locals who have recently become doctors. As far as I know, none of them have come back and settled here.
Personally I find it mind boggling that we can’t convince doctors that Oliver is a great place to live.
Rocky lundy says
Yah – but I’m sure that is too simple of an answer to the issues
Carolyn Tipler says
The loss of my doctor prompted me to take some action – a letter I thought to our new MLA Roly Russell or the Minister of Health Adrian Dix. I am now on my fourth draft as I gather more and more information. How many ads are there out there for General Practioners needed for this area? I couldn’t find any. BCMA is now Doctors of BC and could find no “situations vacant” on their website nor any in the classified section of BC Medical Journal not anything listed by Interior Health. So who hires doctors? Local Practices? The Community as in town or Regional District. We have a hospital which has recently had upgrades and are within easy distance of Penticton Regional Hospital which has also had massive upgrades, so reasonable facilities are already in place much better than many other areas. This is a wonderful area to live in, raise a family in and more affordable than many other areas of BC. What then is the problem in attracting doctors to this area? One report I read from a recently new doctor to the area stated clearly that Interior Health did not consider there was a doctor shortage in Oliver/Osoyoos – how can they possible be so ill informed? I will continue to gather information on the subject and hope to have a letter ready by early January – better than just sitting grumbling about the situation I think.