PRRD seeks insight into healthcare funding

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – The regional district is looking to local organizations for insight into how best to advocate to the Ministry of Health for better support for healthcare in the northeast. 

A proposal was made during the March 6th Peace River Regional District (PRRD) regional board meeting to meet with three healthcare organizations in the district.

The meeting would be to discuss how the PRRD can best advocate for increased support from the Ministry of Health, as concerns about ‘maxing out’ money allocated to supporting healthcare increase among the regional directors. 

Bradley Sperling, the director for Electoral Area C, brought forward a proposal to meet with the North and South Peace divisions of Family Practice and the South Peace First Nations Primary Care Clinic Society on how best to advocate for financial support for recruitment. 

“No question about the good work that these organizations do, it’s where the money comes from,” Sperling said. 

The PRRD also provides several healthcare organizations in the region with financial support to assist with recruitment and retention, and allocated annual grants in January. Grants to regional healthcare organizations come from the same ‘function’ as healthcare scholarships, Function 180 Health Related Services.  

“Why should we be putting it on our local taxpayers when they’re already paying for this through the province?” Sperling asked. 

Many of the directors expressed their agreement with Sperling’s motion, and it was unanimously approved by the board. No details are available at this time on when the meeting with the three organizations will be held.