On November 27, 2019, the Steering Committee chaired by Minister of Health Adrian Dix and created to study and recommend changes in the wake of the Cayton Report, released a paper entitled: “Modernizing the provincial health profession regulatory framework: A paper for consultation”. The paper, available here (PDF), outlines a comprehensive plan to modernize regulation of BC’s health professions, with the key goals of improving transparency, patient safety, public trust and regulatory effectiveness. Part of the plan involves reducing the number of BC health regulatory colleges (of which CMTBC is one) from 20 colleges down to five. The five new colleges would be:

• College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC;
• College of Pharmacists of BC;
• BC College of Nursing Professionals;
• An oral health regulatory college (amalgamating the College of Dental Surgeons of BC, College of Denturists of BC, College of Dental Hygienists of BC, and College of Dental Technicians of BC);
• College of Health and Care Professions of BC.

Under this proposal, CMTBC would be amalgamated into a new “College of Health and Care Professions of BC”, which would be a multi-profession regulator modeled on the Health & Care Professions Council in the UK. The new college would amalgamate all health regulatory colleges that do not form part of the first four colleges listed above.

CMTBC will study the paper, and will consider whether to make a response within the allotted time (by January 10, 2020). In the interim, as the paper calls for input and consultation from all interested parties, any RMT who wishes to do so may consider making their own submission in response to the proposal. The committee is accepting public feedback sent through an online survey or from written submissions.

At present, CMTBC is not aware of any proposed features or details of the new plan other than those presented in the Steering Committee paper. The timing of any changes is yet to be determined. Until the new regulator comes into being, CMTBC will continue to carry out its all of its regular functions. As more information becomes available, we will share it with you.