How the system works
How BC's health system works, and your rights as a patient.
Can a family doctor end the patient relationship? What CPSBC's standard saysCPSBC's practice standard lists the reasons a doctor may and may not end the patient relationship, and the steps the doctor must follow when doing so.How to request a copy of your medical records in BC: timelines, fees and online accessA private clinic generally must respond within 30 business days of a written request. This guide covers fees, transfers to a new doctor, retention periods and Health Gateway.Specialist referral waits in BC: can you speed things up or switch doctors?In BC the median wait from GP referral to treatment is 32 weeks, and it varies a lot by specialty. What waits look like by specialty, and four things you can actually do: switch doctors, check official wait times yourself, speak up if symptoms worsen, and think through a private MRI.Why Canadian doctors often advise fluids and Tylenol instead of antibioticsWhy antibiotics are usually not prescribed for colds, flu and most sinus and throat infections, their side effects, what research says about acetaminophen in pregnancy, and when to go back.Can a doctor trained in China practise in Canada? Three pathways and costsMedical graduates from mainland China have no fast track in BC. Three pathways (exams and residency, PRA-BC, associate physician), 2026 match data and the nursing assessment process.Are private clinics legal in BC? The Medicare Protection Act, the Cambie case and when you can pay privatelyPrivate clinics are legal; charging MSP enrollees for MSP-insured services is not. The Cambie case ended in 2023 with the law intact. Covers legal private options and how to complain.Tracking the new BC government's health-care promises (updated monthly)The BC Conservatives won a majority in the October 2026 election. Each health promise, its status as of 2026-10-29, the source, and what it means for patients right now.