Clinics in Kamloops may get a little more crowded with one in Sahali closing down tomorrow.
The Summit Medical Clinic has served more than 10,000 patients annually according to their office manager.
The Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Peter Milobar says many constituents have reached out about finding new healthcare options.
“There’s no doubt that the clinic closing will create a hole in the community,” Milobar says.
“Hopefully IHA is able to keep recruiting and have new doctors set up, but it’s always the perpetual ‘how do we get more doctors and more practical nurses here?'”
Milobar adds he’s worried the new Urgent Primary Care Centre will displace clinics in Kamloops, and he says that’s likely what has happened with the Summit Medical Clinic.
Doctors in the industry say overhead costs to run a clinic have shot up, and say having enough physicians at a clinic can be a challenge.