Ministry of Health (British Columbia)
| Provincial ministry overview | |
|---|---|
| Type | public health insurance and services |
| Jurisdiction | province of British Columbia |
| Headquarters | Victoria, British Columbia |
| Annual budget | $17.4 Billion Canadian dollar 2015-16 |
| Ministers responsible | |
| Deputy Ministers responsible |
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| Child agencies |
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| Website | health |
| Map | |
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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 for 2012–13 is $16.2 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, Island Health, Northern Health and Vancouver Coastal Health) and one province-wide health authority (the Provincial Health Services Authority) which is responsible for specialized health services.
The Provincial Health Officer is an independent officer with a focus on public and population health who reports to government through the ministry.
The current Minister of Health is Terry Lake.
During the first term of the Gordon Campbell government, a separate Ministry of Health Planning was created (led 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.
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