Colwood's plan to hire doctors as city employees draws national interest in Canada

Colwood, British Columbia, has launched a unique plan to address its family doctor shortage by hiring physicians as city employees. The community has already hired its first doctor and aims to recruit seven more for a city-operated clinic. The initiative has attracted attention from municipalities across Canada, with many expressing curiosity about the approach. The doctors will receive full benefits, allowing them to focus on patient care without the burden of managing a private practice. Colwood's mayor, Doug Kobayashi, proposed the plan to the provincial government in 2023, which quickly approved it. The program is expected to connect each doctor with approximately 1,250 residents, potentially serving up to 10,000 patients once fully operational.