Charting the Course: Designing British Columbia’s health care system for the next 25 years

On June 2, 2011, the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia asked the Select Standing Committee on Health to:

1. Examine the projected impact on the provincial health care system of demographic trends to the year 2036 on a sustainable health care system for British Columbians.
2. Outline potential alternative strategies to mitigate the impact of the baby boomers on the provincial health system, and
3. Identify current public levels of acceptance toward the alternative strategies.

This is important work and the physicians of British Columbia support the Assembly’s foresight on how to meet the needs of our population over the next 25 years. The critical question we must answer is, "How do we build a health care system that will serve a population which will look dramatically different than the one it serves today?"

Consider that:;

• In 2015 one in six British Columbians will be over age 65.
• In 2018 there will be more people in BC over the age of 65 than under the age of 18.
• Between 2022 and 2036 the number of people in BC over age 80 will increase from 250,000 to 435,000.

The intent of this document is to provide background information as the committee begins the process of investigating new strategies. Statistics are cited from agencies and provincial/federal governments, with references included. This document also includes public polling information on these issues conducted by Ipsos Reid, and the full report and details of the poll are also provided. Links to additional information, recommendations or papers are also provided.

For the full submission, please see "Charting the Course: Designing British Columbia’s health care system for the next 25 years”.