As health science professionals across the province continue to report critical staffing shortages, crushing workload, and increasing concern about how they can maintain a high standard of care for patients, HSA welcomes the introduction of a health human resources strategy today by Health Minister Adrian Dix and Advanced Education Minister Anne Kang.

“HSA members have reached their breaking point. This action plan provides a promise that there is light at the end of the tunnel,” HSA President Kane Tse said.

Following a major victory by HSA, close to $10 million will be paid out to health sciences professionals covered by the Health Science Professionals Bargaining Association (HSPBA) 2014-2019 collective agreement. HSA is the lead union in the HSPBA, which represents 20,000 specialized health professionals working in hospitals and communities across BC.
 

In 2021, the Government of Canada declared September 30 the “National Day for Truth and Reconciliation”. The declaration responds to Truth and Reconciliation Call to Action No.

What are you doing to help fight climate change?

HSA is challenging you to show how you and your coworkers are making a difference in the climate crisis. Entering the Climate Challenge is fast, easy, and encourages others to create change as well. You’ll also have a chance to win a prize!

To enter the challenge

HSA President Kane Tse today welcomed news that the BC government is adding 322 new training spots for health science professions facing dire shortages, and providing bursaries for internationally-educated health science professionals looking to join the BC workforce.

Since its launch, the Emergency Health Provider Registry (EHPR) has adapted to respond to health system emergencies (including floods, wildfires, and other climate-change related disasters) and the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 10,000 people are currently registered with the EHPR and the Ministry of Health is undertaking a refresh of the system to update registrant information and improve our capacity to contact and deploy registrants in a timely way.

Please note that applications for this fund are not yet open. Members will be notified when application forms are available.

The Health Sciences Association of BC is pleased to announce $3 million in new funding for professional development of health science professionals. The new funding, secured from the BC Ministry of Health, is the latest in the union’s long-standing program of support for the professional development of members, building on $3 million provided in 2018 and another $3 million in 2021.

With growing shortages of specialized health care professionals causing unsustainable workload issues and affecting the quality and timeliness of patient care in BC, Health Sciences Association welcomes a new provincial program to help MRI technologist students graduate earlier and enter the workforce sooner.

It has been just under two years since HSA completed an extensive survey of racialized members and their experiences of racism at work, the final results of which were released as the “Confronting Racism with Solidarity” report. The report “In Plain Sight” authored by Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond and her investigation into anti-Indigenous racism within BC’s health care system was released just a few months later.

Nearly 300 delegates from facilities across British Columbia attended HSA’s first in-person convention since 2019, debating resolutions on diverse issues and protesting to raise public awareness of shortage and workload issues. The event was held in Vancouver April 28-30.