A doctor wears a lab coat and stethoscope in an exam room at a health clinic in Calgary, Friday, July 14, 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

By The Canadian Press

A million more B.C. residents have a doctor, but 20 per cent of population needs one

Sep 16, 2026 | 12:26 PM

SURREY — The B.C. government says a million more people have been connected to a family doctor or nurse practitioner since 2018 when the government began a plan to get more people primary care.

Premier David Eby says having a family doctor or nurse practitioner is one of the most important foundations of good health.

However, about 20 per cent of B.C.’s population doesn’t have a doctor and the government says it’s working on training, recruiting and retaining more primary care providers.

As of last year, B.C.’s population was estimated at nearly 5.7 million people, making 20 per cent just over 1.1 million people.

A million more B.C. residents have a doctor, but 20 per cent of population needs one

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