Prolonged wait times across the health care system are affecting thousands of British Columbians, contributing to declining patient well-being and further straining a system already stretched beyond capacity. Data from the 2025 Specialist Waitlist Survey, conducted by Doctors of BC and Consultant Specialists of BC with support from BC Family Doctors, shows a 10% increase in specialist waitlists over just one year. A comprehensive, collaborative provincial approach is needed to reduce wait times and improve access to health care for everyone.
Improving health care wait times: Our recommendations and commitments
In a new policy statement, Improving Health Care Wait Times, we are calling for data-driven, evidence-based solutions, informed by physicians and health care professionals, to effectively reduce wait times, improve patient outcomes, and lower costs.
Our recommendations stress the urgent need for effective and sustainable health workforce planning, along with funding and resources to implement the Specialist Waitlist Management Proposal. The Proposal includes developing a centralized database for data collection and establishing additional waitlist management mechanisms. The recommendations also highlight the need to enhance digital referral processes, in collaboration with physicians and other health care partners, to enable real-time data to support consultations, referrals, and orders. Furthermore, the statement underscores the pressing need to improve rural access to specialty care by bolstering specialist outreach initiatives and ensuring the stabilization of core services in mid-sized rural communities.
This policy statement was developed by the Council on Health Economics and Policy and informed by physician input, including feedback from participants in the 2025 and 2024 Specialist Waitlist Surveys.
Further advocacy efforts
As part of our ongoing advocacy, we recommended implementing the Specialist Waitlist Management Proposal in a recent submission to the provincial government’s 2027 budget consultation. We also emphasized that the Proposal provides the BC government with an opportunity to significantly reduce wait times, improve access to care, and enhance the quality and efficiency of our health care system.
Doctors of BC policy
Learn more about Doctors of BC’s work in policy areas that affect you, such as administrative burdens, digital health, and health promotion, in our Policy Database.
