A commentary by the Island Health board chair.

As we move into 2026, I look back on a year which once again highlighted the dedication and compassion of Island Health teams across the region we serve.

Amid ongoing health human resource challenges, increased demands, the unrelenting toxic-drug crisis and a growing and aging population, we continue to respond and work to strengthen the care people depend on.

As an organization, we must acknowledge that some people continue to face barriers to accessing the care and services they need when they need them.

It is my commitment — and the commitment of the entire Island Health family — to work tirelessly to remove these barriers, increase access and support our care teams in providing the best possible care.

In 2025, we made significant progress in primary care. A second urgent and primary care centre opened in Nanaimo, and the first in Duncan.

Urgent primary care visits rose to more than 213,000 from December 2024 to November 2025, up from 165,000 the previous year.

In September, we opened a new primary care centre in Ucluelet, bringing together community health services under one roof, including mental health and substance use care,........

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