The British Columbia New Democratic Party (NDP) announces a student loan repayment program to encourage health professionals to settle in rural areas. He also intends to give a greater role to midwives in the province.
This Saturday, NDP leader David Eby promised to invest $75 million to repay the student loans of health professionals who commit to working in rural areas for a minimum of five years.
This measure allows us to provide funding for up to 5,000 health professionals per year, over the next five years, assesses David Eby. The NDP promises repayment of up to $20,000 for student loans who want to become doctors, nurses or health professionals eligible for the program.
The announcement comes after a summer marked by emergency closures in British Columbia, particularly in rural communities. Last August, more than 200 emergency closures had been recorded in the province since the start of 2024.
The goal is to ensure that when people are looking for a place to exercise, they think of smaller areas in British Columbia.
A quote from David Eby, leader of the New Democratic Party of British Columbia
The party also wants to issue interim work licenses to doctors more quickly so that these health-care workers can work immediately when they move to British Columbia.
The party also plans to expand Go Health BC, the program that covers travel expenses for health professionals who support rural emergency rooms. According to the leader of the BC NDP, this will reduce reliance on nursing agencies.
The new measures proposed for the recruitment of doctors and nurses in British Columbia are estimated at $3 million.
More room for midwives
The NDP leader announced that, under his leadership, midwives will be able to prescribe treatments for abortions and administer maternity care.
Mr. Eby also intends to enable midwives to insert IUDs, screen for sexually transmitted diseases and offer professional support to victims of sexual assault.
David Eby says these workers’ room to maneuver is often limited, since outdated rules assume midwives are unable to support women [adéquatement].
Mr. Eby believes that by removing the administrative barriers that midwives face in their practice, the NDP is ensuring that women have quality care throughout the province, wherever they need it.
According to Cat de Cent, a member of the Association of British Columbia Midwives, many people face significant barriers to accessing timely and safe abortions in the province.
The midwife observes that this problem is even more pronounced for those who live in rural, remote, or indigenous communities.
Cat de Cent says midwives are already filling a gap in the health system, and are being approached by members of [leur] community in any way for different health needs.
She supports the measures announced by the NDP, because she notes that midwives represent a valued and reliable part of the health system, especially in rural communities.
