BCMA Calls Upon Doctors

The BC Medical Association (BCMA) has called upon doctors to begin a series of service withdrawal after negotiations with the provincial government failed to resolve outstanding issues. The dispute was the subject of an agreement to arbitrate outstanding issues. However, after an interim arbitration award was issued, the government passed legislation voiding the arbitration and awrad. The Medical Services Arbitration Act was proclaimed in force on March 7 2002, two days after it was introduced in the legislature. The parties subsequently entered into a Memorandum of Understanding under which further negotiations would take place. BCMA has published a schedule of withdrawals commencing today.