A left-leaning policy think tank is calling out Vancouver Coastal Health for inviting for-profit companies to run at least one urgent primary care centre in British Columbia and is worried this is only the beginning of a trend that could compromise patient care. In a news release, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives says a private business called Seymour Medical was contracted by VCH to run Vancouver's first urgent primary care centre, which opened on Hornby Street in November 2018. Powerful lobbyistsAs part of the Ministry of Health's efforts to improve primary care in B.C., health authorities are rolling out new urgent primary care centres, which are meant as alternatives to emergency departments and walk-in clinics for urgent, but non- life-threatening health-care needs. They become a powerful lobby group that can work to expand their profits - Alex Hemingway, Canadian Centre for Policy AlternativesAccording to Hemingway, there is a "real systemic danger" in involving corporate interests in public health care. In statement, VCH said the contract with the Seymour Medical Group is similar to contracts with not-for-profit health service providers and the same standard of care is required regardless of who operates the care centre.

Source: CBC News May 23, 2019 19:30 UTC