BCCFP and CFPC Submit Joint Letter on Proposed Scope of Practice Changes

On March 31, 2026, the BC College of Family Physicians (BCCFP) and the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) submitted a joint letter to the Ministry of Health's Executive Director of Professional Regulation and Oversight, providing input on the proposed scope of practice changes for regulated health professions under the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA).

The submission was made on behalf of over 8,000 family physicians across British Columbia and more than 37,000 across Canada.

Our Position

We support family physician-led team-based care aligned with the Patient Medical Home (PMH) vision, which enables all health professionals to work to the top of their scope while recognizing their defined roles and competencies. However, we are clear in our letter: scope expansion is not a substitute for sustainable system design.

While some proposed changes appropriately align scope with existing training and may reduce duplication, others — particularly those involving expanded prescribing authority, diagnostic authority, and imaging referrals — introduce significant concerns related to continuity of care, patient safety, system capacity, and accountability.

Importantly, expanding scope across multiple health care professionals does not address the underlying driver of access challenges in British Columbia: a lack of attachment to a longitudinal family physician.

To ensure these proposed changes strengthen rather than destabilize primary care in BC, the BCCFP and CFPC recommend that implementation be guided by five principles:

1. Define clear clinical leadership and accountability, recognizing the irreplaceable role of family physicians in excellent patient outcomes.
2. Reduce, rather than redistribute, administrative burden through streamlined workflows, clear follow-up expectations, and investment in coordination supports.
3. Prioritize system readiness by advancing interoperable digital infrastructure and coordinated care pathways alongside any scope changes.
4. Protect clinical quality and system capacity by aligning expanded authorities with training, evidence-based guidance, and available resources.
5. Align changes with a cohesive long-term vision for primary care that strengthens longitudinal, relationship-based care and supports workforce sustainability.

We also expressed support for the submissions made by BC Family Doctors, Consultant Specialists of BC, and Doctors of BC, representing a unified voice from across BC's physician community.

We urge the Ministry to take a coordinated, system-level approach and welcome the opportunity to work collaboratively to ensure these changes strengthen patient care in British Columbia.

You can read the letter in full here.