Ministry Overview
Purpose of Ministry
The Ministry of Health is responsible for British Columbia's health system, with a mandate to guide and enhance the province's
health services to ensure British Columbians are supported in their efforts to maintain and improve their health. The B.C.
health system is one of the province's most valued social programs as it touches all British Columbians' lives — at some point
virtually every person in the province will access some level of health care or health service. Furthermore, good health is
critical to overall well-being because it enables people to enjoy their lives, take advantage of education and employment
opportunities, and participate fully in society and the economy.
Service Delivery
The Ministry of Health provides leadership, direction and support to its service delivery partners, such as health authorities,
physicians and other health professionals, who directly deliver the majority of health services in British Columbia. The province's
six health authorities are the main organizations responsible for local health service delivery (see Appendix 1 — Profile
of Health Authorities). Five regional health authorities are responsible for delivering a full continuum of health services
to meet the needs of the population within their respective regions. A sixth health authority, the Provincial Health Services
Authority, is responsible for ensuring British Columbians have access to a coordinated network of high quality specialized
health services, such as cancer care, specialized cardiac services and transplant operations.
The Ministry also leads and manages health programs outside the scope of services delivered by the health authorities. The
two largest of these are the Medical Services Plan and PharmaCare programs which provide physician services and prescription
drug coverage for B.C. residents.
The delivery of health services and the health of the population are continuously monitored and evaluated by the Ministry.
These activities inform the Ministry's strategic and policy direction to ensure the delivery of health services continues
to meet the needs of British Columbians.
Vision, Mission and Values
Vision
A health system that supports people to stay healthy, and when they are sick provides high quality publicly funded health
care services that meet their needs.
Mission
To guide and enhance the province's health services to ensure British Columbians are supported in their efforts to maintain
and improve their health.
Values
A set of beliefs, consistent with the principles of the Canada Health Act, defines our organizational behaviour:
- Citizen and patient focus which respects the needs and diversity of all British Columbians.
- Equity of access and in the quality of services delivered by government.
- Access for all to quality health services.
- Effectiveness of delivery and treatment leading to appropriate outcomes.
- Efficiency, providing quality, effective, evidence-based services in a cost-effective way.
- Appropriateness, providing the right service at the right time in the right setting.
- Safety in the delivery of health services.
- Sustainability for the health system so it will meet British Columbians' needs now and in the future.