A recent national survey of 1,924 physicians conducted by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) shows that doctors in Canada spend an average of 9.1 hours a week on administrative work, with respondents estimating that 46% of that work is unnecessary for physicians to carry out.
In BC, 48% of respondents said their time spent on administrative tasks had increased in the past year. Concerningly, 95% of respondents in the province agree that these tasks are reducing their sense of professional fulfilment, with 90% noting that they are a major contributor to burnout.
Administrative burdens: A threat to physician well-being and retention
Respondents across the country reported that administrative tasks negatively affect the doctor-patient relationship and work-life integration. The impact of this cognitive load also led 54% of participants nationwide to say they were considering reducing their clinical working hours over the next 24 months, risking further pressure on an already fragile health care system. A quarter of doctors in Canada who took the survey reported that they were considering leaving medicine or retiring early due to issues across administrative areas, including referral forms, EMR management, and insurance documents.
Physicians who responded to the survey also shared potential solutions, including improving system interoperability, streamlining forms, leveraging digital health innovations, and simplifying billing systems.
Doctors of BC: Working for you to reduce administrative burdens
Addressing administrative burdens and amplifying the physician perspective is a priority for Doctors of BC.
The Administrative Burdens Working Group (ABWG) was formed as part of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Physicians’ Administrative Burdens under the 2022 Physician Master Agreement (PMA). It includes physicians, staff representatives from Doctors of BC, and representatives from government and health authorities, and is led by Health Quality BC. The mandate and resources focus on reducing administrative burdens, allowing physicians to devote more time to patient care.
In Spring 2025, the Doctors of BC Board of Directors and the BC Health Leadership Council accepted the ABWG’s three recommendations on medical imaging appointments. The recommendations outline the responsibility and ownership of the process, notifications, and technical solutions. The Ministry of Health is working with the health authorities in the Lower Mainland to determine the best implementation approach for all partners involved.
In November 2025, the provincial government introduced new employment standards regulations that limit when employers can require sick notes, following years of advocacy by Doctors of BC. The new regulations not only reduce administrative burdens for physicians but also curb the unnecessary spread of communicable disease when ill patients must visit the doctor for a sick note.
Work regarding Special Authority forms is progressing, with recommendations from the ABWG endorsed by both the Doctors of BC Board of Directors and senior leaders from the Ministry of Health last fall. Doctors of BC will share updates with members soon.
The advocacy work Doctors of BC engages in to address administrative burdens is informed through engagement with physician members. Its objective is to eliminate unnecessary paperwork and minimize the amount of time spent on administrative tasks so physicians can prioritize patient care.
Read more about the work Doctors of BC is doing to reduce administrative burdens.
