Columbia Valley Pioneer staff

The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) has denied a request for a grant of $45,000 to help with doctor recruitment.

The East Kootenay Division of Family Practice Society made the request last week to help continue the work of recruiting physicians.

The funding would be spent on local and UK advertising, tours of the area for prospective physicians, travel expenses for the recruitment coordinator, and promotional videos of East Kootenay communities.

Over the past four years, the Division has welcomed and supported the recruitment of 40 new family physicians (permanent and locum). 

“We are pleased with the success of our regional recruitment strategy that focuses on funding the right fit for the physician, the clinic, and the community,” the Division says.

The RDEK has been paying (twice) each year for physician recruitment, said Chair Rob Gay. The Columbia Valley sub-region provides an annual contribution which is paid for by residents. The RDEK has also been providing funds for a more global recruitment plan which involves all communities in the region. But its decision last week was to deny the regional request. 

“The sentiment of the directors was that we need to stop, or at least limit ,the amount of money we provide to support provincial programs,” Gay said, noting that Interior Health is responsible for health care including all staffing of doctors and nurses. He added that groups like  Hope Air and Angel Flight are also looking for dollars to support transportation for health-related needs.

“This year we see many financial challenges paying for our core services,” Gay told the Pioneer.

The chair said the cost of protective services, including the cost of fire trucks, have increased by more than 50 per cent in the past few years. Staffing costs will increase  2.7 per cent in 2025, he explained. And environmental services including landfill operations and recycling costs are all increasing.

“My view is that downloading of activities that are clearly a provincial responsibility, in what we see as a very tight budget year, was the main reason the board said no to the funding request this year,” Gay said.

Past recruitment successes have included two physicians for the District of Invermere, three in Golden, 11 in Cranbrook, three in Creston, three in Kimberley, three in Fernie, and five in Sparwood and Elkford.

Ongoing retirements, re-locations, and population growth have led to some vacancies, including three in Invermere and six in Cranbrook.

Key recruitment activities include strategic planning sessions with active participation from family physicians.

Work continues on streamlining the process for recruiting international medical graduates, and promoting the work/life balance in East Kootenay. Visiting physicians also get a “red carpet” welcome that includes gifts and food expenses.