To deal with a doctor shortage, this B.C. city has decided to start paying them directly

A groundbreaking new medical clinic is set to open early next year on Vancouver Island’s beautiful British Columbia, with a unique structure designed to address the ongoing shortage of family doctors in the area.

The Colwood Medical Clinic, located in Greater Victoria, will be operated by the municipality itself rather than as a traditional private practice. This innovative approach aims to attract and retain family doctors by offering them the benefits of being municipal employees, including full medical benefits, vacation time, and a pension. In addition, doctors at the clinic will be relieved of the administrative and financial tasks typically associated with running their own practices, as the city will handle these responsibilities.

Mayor Doug Kobayashi of Colwood shared that the clinic has already hired its first doctor and plans to bring on seven more. The response to this unique model has been overwhelmingly positive, with interest from municipalities across the country that are also facing doctor shortages.

Data from two years ago revealed that over 50% of Colwood’s population did not have a family doctor. Each of the eight physicians expected to be hired at the Colwood Medical Clinic will be able to serve 1,250 local residents, addressing a critical need in the community.

Dr. Cassandra Stiller-Moldovan, the first physician to join the clinic, expressed her enthusiasm for the new model, citing its alignment with her core values as a physician. By removing the burden of running a business from their shoulders, doctors like Stiller-Moldovan can focus entirely on providing quality care to their patients.

Mayor Kobayashi’s ultimate goal is to ensure that every resident of Colwood has access to a physician. If successful, the model could be expanded to other municipalities, potentially revolutionizing the way healthcare is delivered in British Columbia.

Health Minister Josie Osbourne praised the clinic’s innovative approach, emphasizing the importance of new ideas in addressing healthcare challenges. Ahmer Karimuddin, president of Doctors of B.C., commended the initiative as a bold step in a time of physician shortages, suggesting that communities must explore new ways to attract and retain doctors.

With its forward-thinking approach and dedication to improving access to healthcare, the Colwood Medical Clinic is poised to make a significant impact on the community and serve as a model for healthcare innovation in the province.