portunity. "Progra is. are
‘underway. for” 1981:+.Brian
Byrnes has. been appointed
field coordinator for North
Vancouver, West *Van-

nding < an increa of:

almost: O%, whi h.would: cost’ sare million

FEE SCHEDULE COMPARISON, 1980

BCMA DEMAND (47.8%+ )

,

7 GOV'T OFFER (15.2%)

—— 1981 INCREASE (12.8%)

—~ CURRENT FEE LEVEL

B.C. ALTA GABK.MAN ONT. P.Q. N.B. NLS. P.2.1. NFLD.
FEE INDEX ONTARIO@ 100,

Let’s look at a few facts! .

British Columbia has more doctors per
thousand population than any other
province (1.35).

While these doctors have shown their
concern with their earnings not keeping
pace with the cost of living, the lastest
figures show that they had in fact in 1978, an
earnings index of almost 550 (using 1950 as

base 100), while lawyers were slightly under -

400* and the Consumer Price Index was
slightly under 300%.

*Statistics Canada, Consumer Price Index
for Vancouver, 1978.

Payments of ddctors services are higher
in B.C. tha anywhere else in the:country...

$156 per person. The government offer will

raise the cost pér person.to:$180, but the

‘demand from thé British Columbia Medical
Association would raise'this.cost'to $265.
The:new fee schedule being demanded

is for 47.8%, plus'an increase of
approximately 15-20% for contractual

.
y

INDEX OF EARNINGS 1950100

co
PRICE INDEX
NCOUVER

1965 1070 1076 1078

"changes ‘in. the: chédule, plus fringe b: benéfits ,

of 5% or-more he whole. package, would”

“‘Ithas bee suggested ‘that he | level of
d: yased omeet :

‘COST PER PERSON
ICARE (1979-1980).

oe . oF
wet et

Under the current government offer, the
average increase for all.doctors will be
approximately $14,240. General
Practitioners will receive an average
increase of $15,800, while a number will -
receive considerably more. Specialists will
receive an average annual.increase of
approximately $13,700, with a number
receiving much more than that amount. °

The BCMA has stated that it wishes to
charge patients an extra levy for medical
services over the amount being offered by
the government. This extra levy would be
through extra-billing by the doctors. .

It is the objective of the government of
British Columbia to continue to provide
every B.C. citizen with the highest possible
standard of health services, while providing
the doctors of the province with equitable
remuneration for their services. In all of this
the government recognizes the importance
of managing the financial resources of the
province in a responsible manner.

Province of British Columbia

MINISTRY OF HEALTH
Hon. James A. Nielsen, Minister