‘Our leaders should make decisions based on science and the best available evidence’

IN an open letter, 23 doctors and a nurse practitioner who call Surrey and south of the Fraser home said on Tuesday: “We are worried about what we have heard from the BC Conservatives about the potential for budget cuts and shifts toward privatization.”

They added: “History has shown us that these approaches can undermine the progress we’ve made and create further disparities in access to care. The lessons from other countries remind us of the risks involved, particularly how for-profit systems can erode the quality and accessibility of essential services.”

The doctors said: “As we move forward, it is essential that our leaders make decisions based on science and the best available evidence, rather than pandering to specific subsets of society. We need them to prioritize the health and well-being of the entire community. As such, we are extremely concerned by [BC Conservative Leader] John Rustad’s comments on vaccines, undermining the public health advice and medical science.”

They asserted: “As health care professionals, we are dedicated to advocating for our patients and ensuring that everyone in our community has access to the care they need. We urge residents of Surrey to consider the importance of continued investment in our public health care system. Together, we can maintain the positive trajectory we’ve established and build on the work that has been done over the past seven years to ensure that our community’s diverse health care needs are met.”

They added: “Let’s work together to safeguard the health and well-being of all Surrey and south of the Fraser residents, today and into the future.”

The doctors also noted: “As we approach the upcoming election, many are asking important questions about health care. Surrey – and the Fraser Health region – is experiencing rapid population growth, which brings added pressure to our already stretched resources. Families need access to timely care for children, comprehensive maternity services, and support for our aging population. Furthermore, with rising cancer rates, our community requires enhanced cancer care services, including the recently announced gynecology oncology unit that will allow patients to receive comprehensive surgical care right in their own community.”

They added: “The reality is that our system had been chronically underfunded for decades. And, with the increasing demands on our health care services due to population growth, we find ourselves continuing to face challenges. And, despite not always agreeing with the BC NDP on various issues, we have found common ground over the last number of years on the issue of improving healthcare in Surrey. Together, we have made significant progress – we look forward to the new Surrey hospital, the new regional Cancer Centre, new cardiac catheterization lab, more long-term care beds, and more. These investments are crucial – but there is much more work to do.”

The doctors:

Dr. Kirn Bains MD, CCFP
Dr. Harry Brar, MD, FRCSC
Dr. Anna Chlebak, MD
Meghan Dewar, NP
Dr. Harmeet Dhaliwal, MD, CCFP
Dr. Randeep Dhami, MD
Dr. Baljinder Dhillon, MD
Dr. Navneet Garcha, MD, CCFP
Dr. Younas Jan, MBBS, CCFP
Dr. Sumeet Kalia, MD, CCFP
Dr. Harman Kaur MD, CCFP
Dr. Yashika Kaushal, MD, CCFP
Dr. Calvin Li, MD, CCFP
Dr. Kim Louie, MD, FRCSC
Dr. Vanessa Nicolau, MD, FRCSC
Dr. N. Papalia, MD, FRCSC
Dr Jagpaul Sahota, MD, FRCPSC
Dr. Reece Schemmer, MD, CCFP
Dr. Nishant Sharma, MD, CCFP
Dr. Navneet Sidhu, MD, FRCPC
Dr. Hulbert Silver, MD, CCFP
Dr. Shweta Sundarajan, MD, ABIM
Dr. Husnain Syed, MD, FRCPC
Dr. Shweta Yadav, MBBS, CCFP