A ground-breaking initiative to amplify rural voices in health care decision-making is underway in British Columbia (BC).

The project, “Closing the Gap,” is a partnership between the UBC Centre for Rural Health Research (CRHR) and the BC Rural Health Network (BCRHN) and is funded by the Social Planning and Research Council (SPARC) of BC.

B.C.’s rural communities are home to hundreds of thousands of residents, who often feel their health care needs are overshadowed by urban-focused health policies. This study looks to address this gap by investigating the role of rural communities in health policymaking, identifying current disconnects, and developing strategies for more effective engagement.

A blend of interviews with policy makers and rural leaders, alongside a province-wide survey, will shed light on the status of rural community involvement in health planning. The findings are expected to help craft a more inclusive, representative health care planning process in B.C., promote better health outcomes for rural communities, and contribute to the creation of an online platform for public input on healthcare policies.

“Understanding current community experience with engagement in health planning is the first step to closing the gap,” said the principal co-investigator, Dr. Jude Kornelsen.

“This is a process that is of growing concern to many rural communities as residents feel their solutions to health care challenges are not being taken into planning consideration,” added Paul Adams, Executive Director, BC Rural Health Network.

For more information or to get involved, please click on this link to complete the survey or contact Kate Wills, project coordinator, at [email protected].

UBC Centre for Rural Health Research and BC Rural Health Network

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