As a trusted source of information, Doctors of BC is often cited in media coverage of health care issues across the province, including the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA). For years, we have actively raised concerns about the HPOA in the media, and its recent implementation has attracted significant attention from both local and national mainstream outlets.
Recent coverage has highlighted the problematic aspects of the legislation and prominently featured our analysis and physicians’ concerns about the regulatory changes, which we identified through member consultation. These concerns appeared in interviews with Health Minister Josie Osborne and in print, television, radio, and online news coverage.
A Globe and Mail interview with Harry Cayton, who had been appointed by former Health Minister Adrian Dix to review the Health Professions Act, revealed Cayton’s concern that “there is too much government oversight of what should be independent regulation in the public interest”—a concern that Doctors of BC has raised for years.
Impact on access to care and the cost of care
The media coverage outlines changes under the HPOA and their impacts on both physicians and patients, particularly regarding patient access to care and the cost of delivering care in BC. These were two themes that Doctors of BC’s Council on Health Economics and Policy, the HPOA advisory body, had flagged and brought to the Representative Assembly (RA) for consideration.
At its May 2025 meeting, 98% of RA members agreed that the HPOA, in its current form and without meaningful physician input, would significantly increase health system costs and further reduce access to all levels of patient care. This feedback helped strengthen our advocacy position with government and ongoing efforts to elevate the physician voice.
“Over the last few weeks, I’ve been voicing physician concerns over the HPOA in media interviews. The path forward is a regulatory approach that honours both accountability to the public and the expertise of those who deliver care on the front lines. I remain committed to this ongoing advocacy.” – Dr Adam Thompson, President, Doctors of BC
The future of health regulation: Your voice matters
With the HPOA in full effect, we’re seeking your input on the impacts of the new legislation. Your feedback will inform our ongoing advocacy to ensure that physicians are supported in transitioning to the new legislative environment. Share your input through our Have Your Say member engagement platform.
More information and resources are available on our dedicated HPOA webpage.
Featured media
- Doctor group warns BC’s regulatory changes could lead to fewer physicians, longer wait times (CBC)
- Law overhauling regulation of health professionals in B.C. set to take effect (Globe and Mail, subscription required)
- Providers, opposition criticize coming B.C. law that changes how health professionals are regulated (Globe and Mail, subscription required)
- B.C.’s move away from self-regulation for health professionals was overdue, expert says (Globe and Mail, subscription required)
- Opinion: B.C.’s move away from self-regulation for health workers is imperfect, but overdue (Globe and Mail, subscription required)
- B.C. health care workers question if regulation overhaul will mean more transparency (Globe and Mail, subscription required)
- Sweeping changes to healthcare oversight take effect in B.C. (Vista Radio)
- BC launching new health-care regulatory regime, amid concern from doctors group (Canadian Press)
- B.C.’s overhaul of health care professional regulation may continue to evolve, minister says (Globe and Mail, subscription required)
- Would you dare take it?': Critics fear BC is deregulating Chinese medicine (Canadian Press)
- BC midwives worry that changes to scope of practice will limit mental health support (CBC News)
