The Province and First Nations throughout British Columbia are working together to find new, practical approaches to improving First Nations people’s health and wellness.

Laws around the sale, promotion and use of e-cigarettes are now in effect.

Dr. Doug Cochrane, provincial patient safety and quality officer for British Columbia and chair of the BC Patient Safety & Quality Council, will lead a review of the functioning of IHealth, the new electronic health record system at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.

Premier Christy Clark and MLA Dan Ashton led the official groundbreaking for the new patient care tower and parkade at Penticton Regional Hospital (PRH) with hospital staff, community members and health-care partners.

The Province and partners collectively will be investing more than $7.5 million to support youth who are at risk of substance-use and mental-health concerns with the launch of a new, Integrated Youth Services Initiative.

Targeted funding for health-care programs is allowing Camosun College to train more health-care assistants, as well as more mental-health and addiction workers, to meet the growing health-care needs of the region.

Families and individuals with low incomes will benefit from new affordable rental housing in Greater Victoria, thanks to an agreement between the provincial government and the Capital Regional District (CRD).

The Province has provided $500,000 to Turning Point Recovery Society to support those experiencing substance abuse on their path to a better life.

Health Minister Terry Lake has announced the 73 rural and remote B.C. communities that will welcome community paramedicine, a program that offers residents enhanced health services from paramedics.