A new deal for B.C.’ s doctors
Not just a raise, but a greater say in daily management of hospitals.
B. C.’ s 10,000 doctors will get a 5.5- per- cent raise in fees over five years and a much bigger say in day- to- day management of hospitals and other health facilities under a new master agreement.
It means the province will be spending about $ 4.4 billion a year on doctors by the fifth year of the deal, or about $ 400 million more than today.
That total includes the fee increases and other additional spending, but does not factor in a growing population and an aging population that will increase demand for medical services and increase costs.
More than 91 per cent of the 3,550 doctors who voted said yes to the deal.
Doctors of BC, which represents the province’s physicians, said the increases are in line with those the province negotiated with other groups of health care professionals. It is also in line with increases in the previous two contracts with doctors.
About $ 216 million of the extra money will go toward funding day- to- day compensation and incentive payments for doctors.
Some $ 143 million will be allocated for recruiting additional doctors, and on incentives or bonuses for family doctors and rural physicians.
In a Canadian first, the deal includes $ 18 million over five years to compensate for doctors who agree to help redesign the delivery of medical care within hospitals and facilities.
The intent is to give doctors more influence within health authorities.
Doctors who have privileges to work in hospitals or other facilities will be assured their views will be heard, that they can help set priorities for issues affecting doctors and patients, and that they can hold more sway with health authority leaders, according to terms of the deal.
Health Minister Terry Lake said he’s heard from plenty of doctors that they haven’t felt included in decisions affecting hospital medical staff, resource allocations and working environments.
The deal sets out numerous areas where doctors’ input will be sought, including budgets, patient safety and changes affecting quality of care.
“This new provision acknowledges the fact that there should be more integration and collaboration in the system, more shared responsibilities and better relationships between all stakeholders,’ Lake said in an interview.
Doctors have complained in the past that they couldn’t attend meetings or sit on health committees because they weren’t welcome or because they would lose income if they took time away from patient care.
Because most doctors are paid based for providing specific services to patients, committee work has, until now, been largely unpaid. Now they will be able to collect stipends — the dollar amounts have not been decided — from the $ 18- million fund for such work.
The agreement requires health authorities to consult doctors on the day- to- day functioning of hospitals, including issues of inadequate operating room time for surgeons or the long waiting time for patients to see specialists who work in hospitals.
Dr. Bill Cavers, president of Doctors of BC, said he’s thrilled the deal will improve co- operation and no longer “locks out” experienced doctors with good ideas.
“It’s much easier to stand back and blame if you don’t engage. In this agreement, we are saying doctors should be giving advice.
“It doesn’t mean that they will
It doesn’t mean ( doctors) will be listened to at all times, but their input will be valued. DR. BILL CAVERS PRESIDENT, DOCTORS OF BC
be listened to at all times, but their input will be valued.”
The total budget of the health care system now stands at $ 17 billion a year and will rise to nearly $ 18 billion in 2016. The government has not said whether taxes or medical premiums will rise to help offset the costs of the deal.
Medical premiums have been rising each year — and are set to increase again in January — but the revenue generated by premiums still only covers about 12 per cent of health system costs.