JointHealth
français
BC 2024 provincial election

Arthritis affects one in five voters in British Columbia (B.C.). Two-thirds are under the age of 65. It is a leading cause of disability in B.C. and a significant economic burden related to direct health care costs and indirect costs to the economy related to lost employment, sick leave, and absenteeism.

Health care delivery is one of the most important issues for B.C. voters leading up to the October 19, 2024 provincial election. The way people living with arthritis access and receive health care varies significantly across B.C. Where you live can be more important in determining arthritis treatment than how sick or disabled you are. This particularly affects British Columbians living with inflammatory arthritis – like rheumatoid arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis, psoriatic arthritis or lupus – who depend on getting a timely and accurate diagnosis, fast access to rheumatologists, and appropriate public reimbursement for needed disease-modifying medications.

The time to address arthritis prevention, treatment, and care is now after years of being at the back of the line of health care planning and delivery in B.C. Arthritis Consumer Experts (ACE) has asked the candidates running in the B.C. election what they will do, if elected, to improve the province’s level of arthritis prevention, treatment, and care.

Any responses received by ACE will be archived and posted as they arrive.

ACE survey and party responses

ACE letter sent to each candidate included:
Party Responses To Survey Individual Candidate Responses
This section will be updated as we receive responses from individual candidates. Questions voiced by B.C. patients with arthritis
  • Will you consider arthritis a health priority for B.C. and implement high quality, accessible, evidence-based models of care, such as team-based care or expanded virtual care, for B.C. residents living with arthritis?
  • Will your government commit to reinvesting biosimilars savings to increase accessibility to new medicines and expand coverage for existing medicines for people living with inflammatory arthritis?
  • Will your government introduce culturally appropriate, patient-centered policies to help Indigenous Peoples navigate the healthcare system and receive coordinated care within their community to manage their arthritis?
  • Will your government take steps to ensure timely, specialized care for B.C. residents struggling with osteoarthritis, including joint replacement surgery wait times that are within medically recommended guidelines?
Any questions received by ACE will be posted anonymously.

Ways to vote
To make voting easier for all voters, Elections BC has provided several options, including voting on election day, voting by mail, and voting in advance.