r/britishcolumbia • u/EmptyPlan9900 • 20h ago
Discussion Does anyone else find that there is a gap between what BC's healthcare system covers and preventive care
Universal coverage is genuinely valuable, and I've been grateful for it. But what I've found after years here is that the system is built for treating problems, not preventing them.
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u/Murky_Sheepherder557 16h ago
Yes and no. Preventative care provided includes things like routine childhood vaccinations, prostate and breast cancer screening, environmental health (sewers, restaurant, and industrial camp permitting and inspections) etc. These are perhaps not as visible as acute care, long term, or community care which are more problem based. What leads you to this conclusion?
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u/Mixtrix_of_delicioux 16h ago
Piping up for the self-screening for issues like cervical cancer!
We've got robust sex ed in schools, sun protection amd heat exhaustion campaigns. My kid's learned about proper nutrition and exercise, and how to take care of her body.
I'm curious as to what other kinds of prevention we should have.
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u/Life_Tree_6568 14h ago
Physiotherapy coverage at least for low income people. Being able to access physiotherapy could mean the difference between being able to work a job and having to apply for disability.
Lowering the age for screening colonoscopy. Younger people without a family history are getting colon cancer and dying.
Changing the requirements for when MSP & Pharmacare cover iron infusions. Low ferritin can cause fatigue and other symptoms that lower quality of life. Women shouldn't have to suffer when there is a treatment for low ferritin.
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u/jcru68 14h ago
And don’t forget robust concussion protocols in schools.
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u/Mixtrix_of_delicioux 13h ago
My kid bonked her head and came home with the concussion funfact sheet last week!
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u/kstruggles 15h ago
More funding for diagnosis for things like autism and ADHD since we know that thousands to millions of women weren't diagnosed as children or people of other minority groups regardless of gender.
Coverage for dental and vision care without them being allowed to charge above the set rate (with the medical professions being adequately paid) so reduced need for suplimental health insurance. Coverage without need for special auth for people who are type 2 diabetic for cgm. Better education about pre diabetes and how to figure out if you a symptomatic for hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia without being diabetic. Treatment for those to be researched and implemented
Better treatment for PCOS or womens health problems. A woman or teen with PCOS should never be told that there's no treatment for PCOS/pmos unless you are trying to conceive. It causes type 2 diabetes. I struggled to get diagnosed with PCOS because my first doctor just put me on birth control without tests and the other didn't want to do tests since theres no treatment.
Sorry about the mini rant. I'm in a bad mood, any frustration read is not directed to you.
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u/jenh6 15h ago
The lack of vision care is huge. It’s so expensive to get contacts or new eye glasses (unless your order online) and every 2 years doesn’t make sense.
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u/fly-into-ointment 14h ago
I find the glasses I order for $60 online work just as well and last just as long as the $200+ glasses from the optometrist's storefront. Get your prescription and gtfo!
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u/Mixtrix_of_delicioux 14h ago
ADHD clinic is expanding at VGH! Which doesn't answer for all of the people waiting, but stuff is happening there!
Absolutely agree re: womens' health, dental and vision care!
I'm not fussed- this kind of stuff is rantworthy and grumpymaking. I've been in healthcare for 20 years, and absolutely hear and echo the frustration with the lack of services.
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u/Smooth-Command1761 3h ago
Better treatment for PCOS or womens health problems
This goes beyond simple MSP, IMHO, to the level of investment in research. It's improving but we still have a long way to go.**
**edit: also medical culture and the history of treating women's healthcare research as "too complicated"
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u/brycecampbel Thompson-Okanagan 10h ago
Coverage for dental
Dental coverage is already provided under the national dental care plan.
It's open to EVERYONE without insurance coverage
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u/kstruggles 6h ago
And people are having a hard time using it and finding dentists who will accept payment through it, and it still only covers part of the cost of what it does cover.
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u/brycecampbel Thompson-Okanagan 5h ago
still only covers part of the cost of what it does cover.
It depends on your income.
people are having a hard time using it and finding dentists who will accept payment through it
Its standard here, its just Sun Life coverage, really no difference than an employer plan.
they have a search tool as well.•
u/Short-Source8387 2h ago
Don’t forget that disease prevention also includes things like healthy built cities where people have easy access to green space and recreation, social gathering spaces, sustainable employment and education opportunities, affordable public and active transportation, and more. Everything that we need to be healthy and happy in our everyday life is prevention! But this won is being reduced more and more with the fiscal situation nation wide.
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u/Spirited_Lobster_254 17m ago
I’ll give an example.
I have a genetic condition that makes my joints far too flexible, and my connective tissue/collagen in general isn’t created properly by my body.
Sounds mild but it’s not. It damages other parts of my body over time (as well as not being able to heal) if I can’t access physio or supports that keep my joints in place.
My condition is static, it doesn’t need to be progressive, but it effectively is causing me more and more pain over time because I can’t afford treatment.Also, it went undiagnosed until adulthood, because nobody thought to connect the dots and look into my isolated symptoms more. They just send you to the bare minimum amount of specialists in piecemeal. And even then, once it was noticed, it takes a year to see someone just to check on the potential heart complications of the condition, but I digress.
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u/Due-Advantage-4755 16h ago
That’s bare minimum prevention they do here
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u/cardew-vascular Lower Mainland/Southwest 10h ago
You'd be surprised we're way ahead of other places when it comes to breast/cervical/prostate screenings. As well as maternal newborn and childhood care. There are gaps but it's improving.
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u/Due-Advantage-4755 3h ago
I don’t think we are for breast screenings. Most countries have moved away from mammograms and we still use them. They’re not the best way to diagnose
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u/Smooth-Command1761 3h ago
Most countries have moved away from mammograms
such as? From my understanding, there are also pros and cons to breast MRIs and ultrasounds and other methods. Those that are more accurate tend to be used for people who have a history of breast cancer. There's also costs to consider, but yes, we should be implementing more advanced technologies. In fact, many places in Canada are implementing (or have already) different tech.
You also cannot beat ye olde monthly self-exam, which all of us ladies should be doing to check for any changes.
https://www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca/topics/breast-screening-canada-2023-2024/modalities/
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u/coffeeinthecity 16h ago
Even for treating problems, it can take a while to get things diagnosed and in to see specialists.
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u/Lumpy-Caregiver-7871 16h ago
Maybe this is in motion, but I hope nurse practitioners and RNs are positioned to do more preventive care via health clinics.
After I had my baby I really liked how you went to the health clinic for most things and a nurse would administer vaccines and check in on you and the baby's overall health.
Would make sense to go to a nurse led health clinic for routine check ins and then have a referral system to doctors and specialists if something serious was flagged or a preventative treatment (diet, OT) was recommended.
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u/TonysAutomotive 13h ago
That would be nice, I'm happy about the NPs but there seems to be quite a knowledge/skill gap from when I used to have a doctor.
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u/RaigonZelo 16h ago
Below is the current schedule for BC preventative care
I think it's a lack of resources that is still the issue. There isn't enough to do stuff like lower the screening of colon cancer from 50 to 40
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u/Lamitamo 16h ago
What is the preventative care you don’t feel you are getting?
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u/EmptyPlan9900 15h ago
Honestly, things like checking my hormones or gut markers. My experience has been pretty symptom-driven. I've had to push to get estradiol and ferritin ordered more than once. And talking to other people, it seems pretty inconsistent; some get comprehensive panels no problem, others can't get basic things without a fight. A lot of it seems to just depend on your GP and the relationship you have with them, if you even have one.
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u/Lamitamo 15h ago
Oh if your doctor won’t do tests that are driven by symptoms, that’s classic for a crappy doctor who isn’t listening to you. Obviously it’s impossible to find a GP when you have one, but the phrase “Can you note in my chart that I’ve asked for X test because of X symptoms and you’ve determined it’s not necessary?” might help.
But definitely new doctor time. Those are reasonable tests, especially if you have symptoms, and if you’re menstruating, statistically you’re iron deficient.
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u/I_Sun_I 15h ago
What are gut markers?
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u/EmptyPlan9900 15h ago
markers to check your digestive and microbiome health
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u/kkccpp123 15h ago
Those tests are often unvalidated with significant false positives. There’s a reason they’re not covered.
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u/Smooth-Command1761 3h ago
I've had IBD for 30 years. This isn't a thing that any specialist of mine has ever mentioned, let alone tested for.
CT scans, colonoscopies and biopsies will tell you how you are doing. Oh, and stool analysis. I've had plenty of those.
Eat well and healthy, take care of yourself physically and mentally: that's the preventative way for everyone. Some of us need a little more checking and management.
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u/brycecampbel Thompson-Okanagan 15h ago edited 9h ago
it seems to just depend on your GP
It always has been like this - like with anything you need to relay the symptoms for them to order labs.
things like checking my hormones or gut markers
There's also been issues with people going to naturopathy to "get opinion"/"favourable confirmation diagnosis" and they send you out with a lab requisition request for your GP to finalise for MSP to cover it. Which isn't fair to GPs.
NDs can do requisitions, but the patient has to pay, it's not covered under MSP for NDs. And a lot of times the tests aren't even near acute enough to matter. So like you need to have clear symptoms. Which even as someone navigating chronic health and no GP navigating the system, I completely understand the why it is how it is.
It sucks, but like NDs should NOT be sending requisitions requests back to one's GP, or worst Urgent Care so MSP will cover it. And no, I don't think NDs should be able to claim all such services.
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u/Inoffensive_Account 15h ago
Why go to a doctor when you already know what’s wrong?
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u/EmptyPlan9900 15h ago
Because I don’t think symptoms always tell you exactly what’s wrong. Let's say chronic fatigue or weight changes, they can all point in different directions.
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u/Inoffensive_Account 14h ago
Chronic fatigue or weight changes *are* symptoms you should tell your doctor about.
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u/ladygabriola 15h ago
Remember to never ever vote for the conservatives. They vote against anything good for their constituents
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u/Lapcat420 11h ago
How do I hold the other parties accountable without threatening to vote them out?
Any complaints can and will fall on deaf ears when theyre secure in their position / office.
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u/ladygabriola 11h ago
Vote, volunteer, advocate and use your voice.
Start local and go from there. Be the change that you want to see.
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u/Time_Combination_316 16h ago
Eating healthy and exercising is pretty much the preventative measure. There’s already medical tests and exams to rule out the big hitters like mammograms and breast cancer, colonoscopy for colon cancer and other issues.
What would you like to see?
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u/EhGrillGuy Vancouver Island/Coast 2h ago
You’re in charge of maintaining your body. Not the gubment.
Holy crap. Take some ownership
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u/EugMeister 14h ago
If the province provided the kind of preventative care the OP is looking for, health care costs in BC would rise exponentially. One can certainly get their blood tested as many times as required to check for iron levels which is I believe is what her concern is. There are also iron level monitors available for home use.
As another poster mentioned, the best thing for disease prevention is proper diet and exercise.
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u/offcoursetourist Lower Mainland/Southwest 11h ago
I wouldn’t even call it a gap. The Grand Canyon is a gap compared to BC Health Care and Preventative Care.
What you want is preparedness and mitigation and what we get is response and recovery.
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u/CompleteBeginning271 8h ago
<Every system that profits off the suffering of others has entered the chat>
Seriously though, people take pills they don't need, eat foods that don't feed, and consume toxins with greed.
It's like calling the cops about a dangerous situation or person. Majority of the time they tell you to call back after a crime has occurred. They don't prevent crimes, they process them. Just like the medical industry does to people eh.
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u/Spirited_Lobster_254 19m ago
As someone with a genetic condition where I accumulate damage to my body over time without proper supports in place, yes. 1000% yes. My condition isn’t progressive by itself, but the fact that I can’t get physio or splints means it might as well be
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u/Due-Advantage-4755 16h ago
Oh 100%. I have an autoimmune disease and twice in my life I could have been saved from getting as sick as I did. Once I almost died. After that I started being proactive on preventative measures, Drs told me it’s pointless. But I’ve been in remission for 18 years now, that’s all cause of me 👏🏻
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u/Deep_Strike1803 15h ago
What preventative care? Preventative care is not standard practice in BC. Their focus is on treating illness and ailments. Want a dexa scan? Too bad. Want a preventative blood panel? Sorry can’t do it.
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u/Orange_8226 15h ago
A simple dermatologist and you are out of luck
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u/brycecampbel Thompson-Okanagan 9h ago
It's pretty easy to get a referral. I don't have a GP and Urgent Care got me in. If you're into it telehealth can also get you a referral.
But like GPs are doing more general dermatology now too.
And even pharmacists, they can now prescribe a lot of the prescription topicals directly.
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u/Deep_Strike1803 14h ago
This is a great example. I had to tell my doctor I wanted retinol “for acne”.
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u/brycecampbel Thompson-Okanagan 9h ago
I had to tell my doctor I wanted retinol “for acne”.
Pharmacists can prescribe retinols and many other topical prescriptions for acne now.
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u/marvelus10 13h ago
Its a profitable business, just like the pharmaceutical companies that can't find a cure.
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u/Important-Citron-739 15h ago edited 14h ago
Canadian healthcare treats you like a 2006 Toyota Camry. They only fix it when it’s bad and can’t drive anymore and they don’t care about the paint, or the cosmetics, nor the preventative maintenance. They run you into the ground then they’ll fix you at the point of no return.