Health care and family doctors in British Columbia
Health care ranks with housing as a top voter concern. The government and its critics cite different numbers about family doctors; here are both, with sources, and what each party has published.
What voters say
- Research Co. (Aug 12–14, 2026): 21% name health care as the most important issue; among ages 55 and over it is 34% (Research Co.).
- Leger (Apr 3–6, 2026): 29% name healthcare as a top concern, second to housing affordability (30%) (Leger).
The facts
What the government says. An April 1, 2026 release says more than 600,000 people have been connected to a family doctor or nurse practitioner since 2023, that upwards of 77% of British Columbians now have a primary care provider, and that about 4,000 more are matched each week (news.gov.bc.ca). Budget 2026 includes $2.8 billion in new health funding over three years, $2.3 billion of it to increase system capacity, including hiring more doctors, nurses and health-care workers (budget release, Feb 17, 2026).
What the numbers also show. The Tyee reported on May 31, 2026 that the Health Minister told the Legislature the most up-to-date figure at the end of April was 1,259,425 people not attached to a primary care provider, about 23% of BC's 5.7 million people. The Tyee says a Canadian Community Health Survey found 897,000 (18.2%) unattached when the NDP formed government. The then Conservative health critic, Brennan Day, said government announcements distract from the growing list of unattached patients.
How to read this: the 77% and the 23% describe the same thing from two sides. “Connected” counts people newly matched; the unattached figure is the share of the population still without a provider. Both can be true at once.
Where the parties stand
| Party | What it has published |
|---|---|
| BC NDP (government) | Budget 2026 adds $2.8 billion in health funding over three years, and the government reports more than 600,000 people connected to primary care since 2023 (budget release; health release). |
| Conservative Party of BC | Its platform page lists “Expanding Access to Care and Ending Long Wait Times” under “Putting Patients First,” and names mental wellness and reproductive health care as priorities. The page gives no detailed measures and carries no date (platform page). |
| BC Greens | The 2024 platform costs additional health spending at $190.5 million a year, mental health at $142.9 million rising to $154.3 million, and drug policy at about $290–297 million a year; it cites a review and amalgamation of the health authorities as a possible source of offsets (2024 platform). |
| CentreBC | No concrete health position yet. Health care is among the areas its policy committee is developing (policy page). |
| OneBC | Lists as a priority to overhaul BC's healthcare system to “align it with best practices worldwide” (OneBC priorities). The page gives no further detail. |
How we describe positions: only what a party or the government has published, with a link. Government statements are labelled as the government's claims. Where we found nothing, we say so. Positions come from platform and policy pages reviewed as of September 20, 2026; several parties have not yet published a 2026 platform, and the Conservative and Green pages cited may pre-date the current leaders. BC Vote Watch does not rank or endorse parties. Corrections: see our sourcing rules.
What to watch
Watch for updated unattached-patient figures from the Ministry of Health and any party publishing costed health commitments.
FAQ
How many people in BC do not have a family doctor?
According to The Tyee's report of the Health Minister's statement to the Legislature, 1,259,425 people (about 23% of the population) were not attached to a primary care provider at the end of April 2026 (The Tyee).
What does the BC government say it has done on family doctors?
It says more than 600,000 people were connected to a family doctor or nurse practitioner between 2023 and April 2026, and that upwards of 77% of British Columbians have a primary care provider (news release).
How much new health funding is in Budget 2026?
$2.8 billion over three years, including $2.3 billion to increase health system capacity (budget release).