FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 15, 2025 — Kamloops, B.C. — The Kamloops & District Chamber of Commerce is raising urgent concerns about healthcare access in Kamloops, warning that ongoing gaps in care are placing pressure not only on residents and families, but also on the business community and the region’s economy.
Chamber members are consistently identifying healthcare as one of their top concerns. Families are struggling to access maternity care, many residents remain without a family doctor, Kamloops still lacks a cardiac catheterization lab for urgent heart procedures, and the proposed Kamloops Cancer Care Centre does not meet the same comprehensive standards as other regional centres in British Columbia. The recent news of the entire team of obstetrician gynaecologists resigning from Royal Inland Hospital marks a further erosion of healthcare accessibility and availability in Kamloops and the region.
“These challenges go beyond healthcare—they’re business issues too,” said Acacia Pangilinan, Executive Director Kamloops & District Chamber of Commerce. “When employees have to travel outside the region for medical care, businesses lose productivity and face staffing challenges. At the same time, recruitment and retention of skilled workers becomes more difficult when prospective employees view the Kamloops region as lacking the same healthcare services available in other parts of the province.”
As the regional hub for the Interior, Kamloops requires healthcare infrastructure that reflects its central role. A properly designed, full-service Regional Cancer Centre, along with the establishment of a cardiac catheterization lab, support for women’s health and strengthened maternity and family care, are critical steps toward ensuring equitable access to care, supporting workforce stability, and strengthening the long-term economic vitality of the community.
“The health of our regions’ residents and the health of our economy are directly linked,” added Pangilinan. “Equitable healthcare access is essential to building a region where people want to live, work, and invest. Addressing these gaps is vital not only for patients and families, but also for the sustainability and competitiveness of Kamloops as a regional centre.”
The Kamloops & District Chamber of Commerce urges government and healthcare leaders to act swiftly in partnership with local community leaders to address these gaps in healthcare access and to ensure that the Kamloops region receives the quality of care its residents—and its economy—deserve.
Media Contact:
Acacia Pangilinan
Executive Director
Kamloops & District Chamber of Commerce
Phone: 778-257-5900
Email: acacia@kamloopschamber.ca