REGIONAL CANCER CLINICS (2005 – Revised 2007)

The province of BC has adopted a delivery model for healthcare – centralizing health services and programs into five super regional health authorities: Vancouver Island, Vancouver Coastal, Fraser, Interior and the Northern health authorities and one province-wide health authority (The Provincial Health Services Authority) responsible for province-wide programs such as the BC Cancer Agency.

It is important that each of these regions deliver fairly, economically and equitably a comprehensive list of services and health-related programs. We encourage each of the health regions to work co-operatively to improve access to specific healthcare services and issues, referring patients to other health regions where capacity exists. With this in mind, the majority of the health regions offer a full range of cancer treatments via cancer clinics. There are presently cancer clinics in Vancouver, Surrey, Victoria, Kelowna, and one soon to be built in Abbotsford.

It should be encouraged that more services be offered outside of the Lower Mainland as travel can be made in either direction and cost savings can be obtained through cheaper accommodation than is the case in the Lower Mainland.

Recently the provincial government has committed $1.2 million to research the economic viability of cancer clinics in populated parts of rural areas.

THE CHAMBER RECOMMENDS

That the provincial government:

1. review its cancer care delivery strategy utilizing the research study soon be completed at the University of Northern BC and open up cancer clinics in health regions not yet served where recommended; and

2. support the BC Oncology Network to improve cancer care to all regions of the province.