Ministry of Health (British Columbia)

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The Ministry of Health is a provincial government department 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.

Its annual budget (2007/08) is about $13 billion. The Ministry leads and manages health programs such as the Medical Services Plan (physician services), PharmaCare (prescription drug coverage) for BC residents. The majority of direct health services are delivered through partnerships with health authorities, physicians and other health professionals. The ministry works with five regional health authorities (Fraser Health, Interior Health, Northern Health, Vancouver Coastal Health and Vancouver Island Health Authority) and one province-wide health authority (the Provincial Health Services Authority) which is responsible specialized health services.

The BC Ambulance Service and the BC NurseLine telephone triage service are independent agents of the Emergency Health Services Commission which reports to government through the ministry.

The Provincial Health Officer is an independent officer with a focus on public and population health who reports to government through the ministry.

[edit] Minister

As of May 2007, the Minister of Health is George Abbott. During the first term of the Gordon Campbell government, a separate Ministry of Health Planning was created (lead by Sindi Hawkins) but that ministry was later merged back into the main ministry. During the same period there were also two Ministers of State, one for Seniors and another for Mental Health and Addictions.