Putting patients first: Parties take next step to modernize health professions regulation

Press Release

Aug. 27, 2020

VICTORIA – The multi-party steering committee is releasing its recommendations to modernize the province’s health profession regulatory system, taking the next step to ensure that patient safety and improved transparency is at its forefront.

“We’re fully invested in the goal to put patients first and the implementation of these recommendations will help strengthen the regulatory colleges’ ability to deliver on their mandate to protect the public,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health and chair of the steering committee. “I want to thank partners and members of the public for their input. We received over 1,780 written submissions and 4,018 surveys in the consultations. This is an area we are passionate about improving and evidently, so are you.”

Dix, and members of the steering committee, Norm Letnick, health critic for the official Opposition, and Sonia Furstenau, health critic and house leader of the third party, reviewed feedback from the public, health professionals, regulators, associations, Indigenous partners, unions and health authorities to revise and finalize the recommendations.

The recommendations will be presented to the executive council for their consideration. If the members agree with the recommendations, legislation will be drafted and brought forward to the legislative assembly for consideration. If passed, amendments to the Health Professions Act will put into place the legislative framework required for their implementation.

Six areas of focus are aimed to improve the overall effectiveness of the system, strengthen governance and oversight, and increase transparency for the public.

The recommendation to reduce the number of regulatory colleges from 20 to six will improve efficiency and support the shift toward team-based care. A new oversight body will be created to oversee the colleges and report out publicly on their progress. A new complaints process is being recommended to ensure fairness of investigations and the oversight body will be taking over the role of discipline to ensure the penalties are consistent and fair across professions and colleges. These actions will serve the dual goals of increasing oversight and transparency.

The recommendations will bring the province’s regulatory system into the 21st century and ensure that it works for patients in B.C.

“We’re working as a team on this issue, because we all think that appropriate and safe health-care is a priority for all British Columbians,” Letnick said. “We’re impressed with the level of feedback and have considered all recommendations carefully as we propose changes for better care.”

Health regulation plays a vital role in B.C. by setting and enforcing the standards of professional behaviour, competence and ethics that underpin the day-to-day interactions patients and the public have with health professionals.

“The committee felt that transparency and patient safety was one of the top concerns, and the public shares those feelings,” Furstenau said. “We are listening, and we are moving forward with our efforts to create safer, leaner and more-efficient health profession regulation.”

In response to concerns regarding the College of Dental Surgeons of British Columbia, Dix took the rare and significant step in 2018 of launching a review into the administrative and operational practices of the college. Harry Cayton, former chief executive of the United Kingdom’s Professional Standards Authority, was tasked to conduct the review.

Cayton was further asked to review the Health Professions Act and its regulations, make recommendations, and advise the steering committee in its work to renew and improve the health regulatory system in B.C. These recommendations follow the 2019 report.

Learn More:

For more information on the recommendations, and how they would change the current health profession regulation, visit: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/healthprofessionregulation/

A backgrounder follows.

Contact:

Ministry of Health
Communications
250 952-1887 (media line)

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BACKGROUNDER

College and its number of registered members

College of Chiropractors of BC: 1,322
College of Dental Hygienists of BC: 4,012
College of Dental Technicians of BC: 995
College of Dental Surgeons of BC: 10,432
College of Denturists of BC: 268
College of Dietitians of BC: 1,400
College of Massage Therapists of BC: 5,241
College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC: 13,724
College of Midwives of BC: 379
College of Naturopathic Physicians of BC: 771
BC College of Nursing Professionals: 59,493
College of Occupational Therapists of BC: 2,649
College of Opticians of BC: 1,011
College of Optometrists of BC: 851
College of Pharmacists of BC: 8,941
College of Physical Therapists of BC: 4,436
College of Podiatric Surgeons of BC: 87
College of Psychologists of BC: 1,346
College of Speech and Hearing Professionals of BC: 1,864
College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncturists of BC: 2,361

The six health professional colleges from the recommendations

Regulatory college of complementary and alternative health and care professionals, to include chiropractors, massage therapists, naturopathic physicians, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists
Regulatory college of allied health and care professionals, to include dietitians, occupational therapists, opticians, optometrists, physical therapists, psychologists, speech and hearing professionals, and diagnostic and therapeutic professions (clinical perfusionists, respiratory therapists, radiation therapists and medical laboratory technologists)
An oral health regulatory college, to include certified dental assistants, dental hygienists, dental technicians, dental therapists, dentists and denturists.
College of Pharmacists of BC
British Columbia College of Nursing Professionals, to include midwives
College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC, including podiatrists

Contact:

Ministry of Health
Communications
250 952-1887 (media line)

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: news.gov.bc.ca/connect

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