Harper Government Announces Funding to Support New Family Medicine Positions in British Columbia

News Release
2011-33
February 23, 2011
For immediate release

Factsheet: Family Medicine Residency Initiative for Communities in British Columbia

Vancouver – On behalf of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, the Honourable Stockwell Day, President of the Treasury Board, today announced federal funding that will support up to 20 new family medicine residents to receive training and provide medical services in British Columbia.”Today’s announcement will bring more doctors to British Columbia,” said Minister Day. “This project will provide the necessary medical training for new family medicine residents and equip them with the skill set needed to practice in areas throughout the province.”

Working in collaboration with the Province of British Columbia and the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Medicine, federal funding will support the creation of up to 20 additional residencies assigned throughout the province over a four year period. These positions will increase the number of residents training in family medicine and working in rural and remote communities. In addition, five new distributed training sites will be established for family medicine residents studying under the province’s International Medical Graduates Program.

“This almost $6 million in funding will allow us to grow our already successful International Medical Graduate-BC residency program,” said B.C. Health Services Minister Colin Hansen. “IMGs will also train and return service in health regions across the province, supporting our commitment that every resident of B.C. who wants one a family physician will have one by 2015.”

Funding from today’s announcement will help ensure the people of British Columbia have greater access to the right supply, mix and distribution of health care providers. It will also support the Government of British Columbia’s efforts around health human resources planning which aims to create and maintain a stable, adequate health workforce in rural and remote communities.

“It is great news that this funding will allow us to provide an additional 40 education spaces for family medicine residents through our partnership with the University of British Columbia,” said B.C. Minister of Science and Universities Ida Chong. “The additional training spaces reflect our focus on increasing training options for health care professionals.”

The Government of Canada is providing approximately $5.9 million in funding over five years through the Pan-Canadian Health Human Resources Strategy which supports and facilitates innovation in health human resources to help bring about an adequate supply of health care providers while promoting optimal working conditions for Canada’s health workforce.

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Media Enquiries:
Health Canada
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Jenny Van Alstyne
Office of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq
Federal Minister of Health
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