The B.C. government announced Tuesday that 13 First Nations primary care centres will be set up around the province, with 10 scheduled to welcome patients by the fall of 2024.
The government and First Nations Health Authority say they see the centres as a key step toward increasing access to culturally safe, primary health care in B.C.
“Dismantling and eradicating Indigenous-specific racism from B.C.’s health care system continues to be a key priority for our government,” said B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix in a news release.
Dix said that priority includes expanding access to First Nations-led health care and to work in partnership with local First Nations and the First Nations Health Authority.
“The new [care centres] will help deliver high quality, patient-centered primary care for communities around B.C., bringing the care and services people need closer to their homes, and are another important step forward in our journey toward reconciliation,” the minister said.
Of the 13 new centres, 10 will welcome patients by fall of 2024, including the Kwakwaka’waka First Nations Primary Care Centre, Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations Primary Care Centre, Coast Salish First Nations Primary Care Centre and Gitxsan-Wet’suwet’en Primary Health Care Centre on Gitxsan Territory.
Others are the Dadzi Wellness Centre on the Dak’elh First Nations Territory, northern St'át'imc Primary Care Center, Nlaka’pamux Nation First Nations Primary Care Centre in Merritt, Nuxálk Primary Care Centre, es zúmin’ Primary Care Centre and the MîÝoMâCihêwi Kamik Northern Nations Wellness Centre on Treaty 8 Territory.
Centres in development are the Éyameth First Nations Primary Care Centre on Sts’ailes Territory as well as the Fraser West and Fraser South mobile medical units.
Once all centres are in operation, there will be three clinics in each of the five regional health authorities, boosting the total number to 15; the Lu'ma Medical Centre in Vancouver opened in 2019 and the All Nations Healing House in Williams Lake in 2022.
The centres will combine primary health care, social services and Indigenous health supports into teams that will provide “culturally safe, person-first health-care services” across the province.
'Shared journey'
Service delivery in each centre will be unique and tailored to the needs of the communities it serves and will be operated in partnership with the local First Nations, the First Nations Health Authority and the Ministry of Health.
Recruitment for clinical and traditional roles is currently active in all regions of the province. Centres offering services in phases will offer limited services to begin with and provide more as positions are filled.
Dr. Terri Aldred, medical director for primary care at the First Nations Health Authority, said while the agency values its partnerships with the Ministry of Health and First Nations communities, more health care services are needed.
“We recognize more work needs to be done to achieve our vision of healthy, self-determining and vibrant First Nations children, families and communities in B.C., and we invite all health-system partners and municipalities in B.C. to support our shared journey towards a safe and sustainable health care system,” Aldred said.
One of the recommendations of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls was the need for accessible and culturally appropriate health, mental health and addictions services for Indigenous women.
