Health Policy

Population Health

April 1, 2011

Because the varying nature of determinants of health, their interdependencies, and the silo nature of government funding and organization require collaboration among governmental and non-governmental parties to implement effective population health programs, the Doctors of BC calls upon the provincial government to adopt a collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach including representation from the Doctors of BC to the development and implementation of population health programs.

To ensure continued access to necessary services, funding for population health initiatives should not come at the expense of the acute care sector.

To make funding more accountable and focus on vulnerable populations and health outcomes, the Doctors of BC supports policies that target specific determinants of health and/or specific populations rather than population health more generally. Funding for preventive services with proven clinical and cost benefits, for example, represents a promising area for policy development.

For more information, including background, analysis and references, please see the full policy statement.