Interior Health says it will be implementing its Primary Care Network Service plan in the Kamloops region this fiscal year, to help address family physician shortages.

Back in 2020, the province announced a plan to improve access to healthcare providers, through primary care networks, which is a space where community-based primary healthcare providers are networked together.

IH’s Director of Business Operations Dianne Kostachuk explains due to the family practice provider shortage in Kamloops, they are working through what’s called their ‘primary care network service plan.’

“It is a ministry approval to bring in additional primary care resources, not just family practice providers, but nurse practitioners, and the whole host of team-based care that we know enhances access and capacity in primary care.”

“I look forward to the implementation of that in the Kamloops region, in the coming fiscal year,” said Kostachuk on March 30.

Kostachuk explains the PCN plan, will enhance access and capacity to primary care in the Kamloops area.

“It is an exciting time and I think recruiting and retaining in Kamloops is going to take all of us building a community that people want to come and work in.”

While details about the specifics of the plan are limited, Interior Health says in a statement to NL News:

“I can confirm that planning is underway for the Primary Care Network Service Plan. However, we cannot speak to more details before the official announcement.”

A date for when we could expect to see an announcement is unknown at this time.