Doctors of BC Calls for Improvements to Chronic Pain Management 

Doctors of BC has released its Chronic Pain policy document. Pain BC was involved in providing feedback to this document and will continue working with Doctors of BC and other stakeholders to support moving the policies into action.

 

A new policy statement by Doctors of BC recommends that the BC Ministry of Health, in collaboration with key stakeholders, develop and implement a Provincial Chronic Pain Strategy that supports timely access to quality multidisciplinary chronic pain services in BC.

 

“Imagine living with constant pain somewhere in your body – pain that just won’t go away, no matter what you try. This is a reality for too many people who have trouble doing simple things that the rest of us take for granted – walking, getting into the car, climbing stairs, even sleeping,” says Dr Trina Larsen Soles, President of Doctors of BC. “Being able to effectively manage pain is a necessity for so many to live a normal life, and it’s why Doctors of BC is calling for a provincial strategy to ensure those living with chronic pain have access to the right care when and where they need it.”

 

Specifically, Doctors of BC believes a Provincial Chronic Pain Strategy should prioritize the following:

More information on Doctors of BC’s recommendations and commitments can be found here.

 

Many of the objectives identified by the Beyond the Summit working groups align with the priorities in the DoBC's policy statement. The Allied Health and Nursing within Multidisciplinary Teams Working Group is planning initiatives that help highlight the importance of multidisciplinary chronic pain services, with the goal that these initiatives will contribute to the development of a Provincial Pain Strategy that supports access to such services. The Group is also looking at ways to contribute to physician education on non-pharmacological pain management alternatives.