Details

WHEREAS patients in rural and remote communities require medical attention in larger centers within the Province; and

WHEREAS a current lack exists for accessible transportation to return patients to their home communities after treatment;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the North Central Local Government Association and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities urge the Provincial Health Minister to provide residents requiring medical care within the province with appropriate means to return to their homes in rural and remote communities.

Additional Information

UBCM Comments: The UBCM membership endorsed resolution 2012-B38, which asked the provincial government to provide additional medical transportation services for rural British Columbians.

In response to the resolution the provincial government highlighted the regional Health Connections program, offering low-cost ground transport; the provincial Travel Assistance Program (TAP), through which several private transportation carriers offer fare discounts; and the BC Family Residence Program, which can include enhanced travel assistance.

UBCM members have also endorsed other resolutions concerning the provision of assistance for health care related travel costs, including requests that the Province:

• subsidize the ferry fares of immediate family members when travelling back and forth on BC Ferries during the extended period of a child’s treatment (2010-B110);
• improve affordable public transportation service between small rural municipalities and hospitals in larger urban centres (2009-B15);
• extend the Health Connections Program to subsidize travel for medical care for any rural residents outside their home community, regardless of distance (2006-B156); and establish local mechanisms within communities to disburse funding to citizens for medical travel expenses (2005-B146).