The British Columbia Dental Association (BCDA) has launched a public petition urging the provincial government to make critical changes to the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA).
The HPOA, formerly known as Bill 36, received royal assent in 2022 and is expected to come into force in 2025, replacing the Health Professions Act.
“If enacted, this legislation threatens to undermine access to oral care for the people of B.C. We are now inviting the public to add their voices to our concerns,” BCDA president Dr. Anita Gartner said in a statement Wednesday.
HPOA’s anti-racism focus
The HPOA aims to address discrimination with its anti-racism focus, introduce a merit- and competency-based appointment process for regulatory boards, strengthen oversight of health colleges, create a safer complaints system with an independent disciplinary hearing process, and improve transparency and information sharing to enhance patient safety and public trust.
In B.C., 26 regulated health professions exist, 25 of which are governed by six regulatory colleges under the Health Professions Act.
However, the BCDA warns the new law could lead to fewer available professionals, longer wait times and higher costs for patients but has not detailed how these outcomes would occur.
“In my practice, I care for young and vulnerable patients, and I see firsthand the challenges our profession faces—staff shortages, administrative burdens and rising costs—all of which threaten to strain the system and affect access to care,” Gartner said. “If the HPOA proceeds unchanged, it will only worsen these challenges, jeopardizing the care that so many families depend on.”
Concerns when HPOA was first discussed
Gartner added that since discussions on the HPOA began in 2019, concerns have been raised about its potential impact.
“More consultation is needed before this legislation is put into force to ensure it is effective for health-care providers and the patients they serve,” she said.
“The dentists of B.C. are asking the public to stand with us. We invite everyone in B.C. to sign the petition and join our call to protect access to high-quality oral health care in our province.”
For more information on the HPOA and to sign the petition, visit bcdental.org/hpoa.
