In an effort to modernize the healthcare system in the province, the B.C. government is reducing the number of regulatory colleges from 20 down to six.

The province’s 20 colleges have more than 120,000 members representing a variety of health professionals including chiropractors, physicians and surgeons, as well as dental surgeons.

Health Minister Adrian Dix launched a system-wide review of the regulatory colleges back in April 2019 after a report was released that concluded the College of Dental Surgeons of B.C. was more focused on protecting the interests of dentists over the public.

“We’re fully invested in the goal to put patients first and the implementation of these recommendations will help strengthen the regulatory colleges’ ability to deliver on their mandate to protect the public,” he said.

Dix notes the goal is to improve patient safety, the efficiency of the regulatory framework, and the public confidence in the healthcare system, noting B.C. is not deregulating professions, but rather it is streamlining the ways in which it is regulated.

For example, instead of separate colleges for chiropractors, acupuncturists, massage therapists and other similar professions, they would now fall under a new Regulatory College of Complementary and Alternative Health and Care Professionals.

These recommendations must still be approved by the provincial cabinet.

“We’re working as a team on this issue, because we all think that appropriate and safe health-care is a priority for all British Columbians,” Health Critic Norm Letnick added. “We’re impressed with the level of feedback and have considered all recommendations carefully as we propose changes for better care.”

Dix adds there is also a new discipline process being worked on that the province says will improve transparency to the public when complaints against a professional are founded.

– With files from The Canadian Press