Championing physicians’ interests under the HPOA

The Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA) comes into effect on 1 April 2026, replacing the current Health Professions Act and introducing significant changes to the regulation of health professions, including physicians.

Since 2019, Doctors of BC has advocated extensively to voice physicians’ concerns to government about the HPOA and its impact on the profession, including potential unintended consequences related to the cost of delivering care and patient access to health care. We have also consistently emphasized the importance of meaningful consultation and engagement with physicians and other health care providers. During the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC’s bylaw consultation process last year, we created summaries and in-depth analyses for each of the four consultation phases to help physicians understand the proposed changes and their implications. Through extensive member engagement, we collected physician input, collaborated with key physician leadership groups, and submitted a comprehensive response to the College, which resulted in the inclusion of some of our recommendations in the College’s final bylaws.

More recently, we facilitated a webinar with representatives from the College and the newly established Health Professions Discipline Tribunal (HPDT) to provide members with an overview of upcoming changes to complaints and disciplinary processes under the HPOA. In this session, presenters outlined their respective roles within the new framework and addressed key questions from physicians, including those related to maintaining the anonymity of complaints, available recourse after HPDT decisions, and handling of frivolous complaints, among others.

To access a recording and detailed summary of the webinar, as well as additional information on the history of our advocacy and ongoing efforts, visit Doctors of BC’s dedicated HPOA webpage. As the HPOA comes into effect, Doctors of BC will continue to advocate, share updates, and provide resources to support members as they navigate the new processes and transition to the updated legislative framework. If you have questions, please contact policystrategyandlegal@doctorsofbc.ca.

—Adam Thompson, MD
Doctors of BC President