There's never been a better time to Buy BC and support local growers, producers and the food we love right here in BC.  Explore Buy BC products
Government of B.C. Government of B.C. Government of B.C. Government of B.C. BC Gov News
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Live Webcast
  • News  
  • News  
  • By Ministry
    • Office of the Premier
    • Agriculture and Food
    • Attorney General
    • Children and Family Development
    • Citizens' Services
    • Education and Child Care
    • Emergency Management and Climate Readiness
    • Energy and Climate Solutions
    • Environment and Parks
    • Finance
    • Forests
    • Health
    • Housing and Municipal Affairs
    • Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation
    • Infrastructure
    • Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat
    • Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation
    • Labour
    • Mining and Critical Minerals
    • Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills
    • Public Safety and Solicitor General
    • Social Development and Poverty Reduction
    • Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport
    • Transportation and Transit
    • Water, Land and Resource Stewardship
  • Subscribe
Live Webcast
By Ministry
  • Office of the Premier
  • Agriculture and Food
  • Attorney General
  • Children and Family Development
  • Citizens' Services
  • Education and Child Care
  • Emergency Management and Climate Readiness
  • Energy and Climate Solutions
  • Environment and Parks
  • Finance
  • Forests
  • Health
  • Housing and Municipal Affairs
  • Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation
  • Infrastructure
  • Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat
  • Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation
  • Labour
  • Mining and Critical Minerals
  • Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills
  • Public Safety and Solicitor General
  • Social Development and Poverty Reduction
  • Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport
  • Transportation and Transit
  • Water, Land and Resource Stewardship

Health

New funding expands access to health information for patients in B.C.

Share

More from this Ministry
Honourable Josie Osborne

Honourable Josie Osborne

Honourable Josie Osborne

Read Bio

Contact

Email: HLTH.Minister@gov.bc.ca

close menu Health

Sick notes restriction will leave more time for patient care

April 15, 2025 12:45 PM
Fewer sick notes means more time with patients
Changes to the Employment Standards Act will leave health-care providers with more time to spend with patients by eliminating the need for workers to get sick notes for short-term absences from work.
  Read More

New beds improve care for incarcerated people with mental-health, addiction issues

April 24, 2025 2:15 PM
ALL NEWS FROM THIS MINISTRY
More from this Ministry
  • Factsheets & Opinion Editorials
  • Search News
  • Minister's Bio
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Print

Health

British Columbia News

New funding expands access to health information for patients in B.C.

https://news.gov.bc.ca/06168

Share

News Release

Vancouver
Friday, May 9, 2014 8:30 AM

Share

News Release

Vancouver

Friday, May 9, 2014 8:30 AM

More from this Ministry

  • Factsheets
  • Ministry Website
  • Ministry Photos
  • Ministry Videos

Featured Topics

  • Accessing Health Care
  • Health Connect Registry
  • Health & Drug Coverage
  • Building better mental health and addictions care
  • HelpStartsHere

Featured Services

  • HealthLink BC
  • Medical Services Plan
  • BC PharmaCare

A funding boost of $500,000 will expand a program to ensure health education materials are readily available to communities, patients and caregivers throughout British Columbia, announced Health Minister Terry Lake.

The University of British Columbia’s intercultural online health network (iCON) provides patients in multicultural communities throughout B.C. with access to health information and health professionals that help these patients manage and prevent chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. UBC’s eHealth Strategy Office will use this funding to develop a strategy to expand this program to communities and health professionals in all areas of British Columbia.

“While there is no shortage of online medical advice out there, finding the best and most accurate health-care information with today’s technology is often a challenge regardless of where you live,” said Lake who made the announcement at the Health and Innovative Technology Showcase conference in Vancouver. “This program being developed at UBC’s eHealth Strategy Office will connect patients to health professionals, services and information to help empower them to take control of their own health-care.”

eHealth services like these use information technology to provide the best possible patient care. Other eHealth services used in British Columbia include electronic health records, access to lab test results, diagnostic scans and medication histories. Services developed by iCON will identify the tools and technology out there to best connect patients with services.

“There are a lot of electronic health tools, technologies and applications out there but it is hard to find the ones that work for each patient’s needs,” said director of the University of British Columbia’s eHealth Strategy Office, Dr. Kendall Ho. “This isn’t about inventing new apps; it is about working in partnership with patients to identify what they need and can access now to provide them with relevant, timely and accurate information.”

The iCON is a community-driven health promotion program aimed at managing and preventing chronic disease among multicultural communities across B.C. By promoting communication and partnerships between community members and health professionals, these communities can access knowledge, services and supports in their own language using tools such as web, smartphones and other accessible technologies.

Learn More:

Intercultural Online Health Network: http://www.iconproject.org/dnn_icon/

eHealth: http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/ehealth/


Media Contacts
:

Kristy Anderson
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (media line)

https://news.gov.bc.ca/06168

Related Articles

Sick notes restriction will leave more time for patient care

April 15, 2025 12:45 PM

New beds improve care for incarcerated people with mental-health, addiction issues

April 24, 2025 2:15 PM

B.C. invests in planning for northern youth support centre

May 7, 2025 10:30 AM
BC Gov News

Connect with the Ministry

Photos

View the Ministry's latest photos on Flickr.

Videos

Watch the Ministry's latest videos on YouTube.

The B.C. Public Service acknowledges the territories of First Nations around B.C. and is grateful to carry out our work on these lands. We acknowledge the rights, interests, priorities, and concerns of all Indigenous Peoples - First Nations, Métis, and Inuit - respecting and acknowledging their distinct cultures, histories, rights, laws, and governments.

Government of B.C. Government of B.C.

We can help in over 220 languages and through other accessible options.   Call, email or text us, or find a service centre.

Connect with Us

  • Subscribe
  • Social and RSS

More Info

  • BC Gov
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility
  • Copyright
  • Contact Us

© 2025 Government of British Columbia