Every day, thousands of people in British Columbia wake up to excruciating pain and restricted mobility, their joints swollen with a relentless ache that turns seemingly simple tasks into strenuous activities. 

This is the stark reality for those living with arthritis: an incurable disease that, despite its prevalence, remains overlooked and underfunded. 

Individuals living in underserved and remote communities are in especially severe distress, as access to specialized arthritis care is limited and waitlists stretch for years. In areas of the Fraser Valley such as East Langley, Abbotsford, Mission, Chilliwack, and Hope, the shortage of rheumatologists is alarming, and wait times are often a year or longer. Another significant challenge due to availability or cost is accessing arthritis-specific physiotherapy and occupational therapy programs and services, which are critical to helping people manage their condition.

Arthritis is the most chronic disease in British Columbia—more common than diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and stroke combined—affecting nearly 900,000 people in the province today, half of whom are under the age of 65. And the numbers are rising. By 2040, one in four people in British Columbia will be grappling with this debilitating disease.

Furthermore, arthritis costs the Canadian economy a staggering $33 billion annually in healthcare expenses and indirect costs such as lost workdays. Yet, it is woefully underfunded compared to other diseases. 

Recent data shows that only 65 and 57 per cent of hip and knee replacements in the province happened within the medically-recommended time. Surgical delays mean worsened joint damage and an unnecessary need for complex and costly surgeries. 

Our healthcare system’s failings are glaring and cannot be ignored any longer.

Investments from our provincial government, the private sector, and our community are crucial to advancing developments in prevention, treatment, and management, and to improving the quality of life for those living with arthritis.

Early intervention can significantly slow the progression of the disease and reduce long-term healthcare costs. Improving timely access to medications will prevent patients from facing unnecessary delays in treatment that would exacerbate their pain and potentially lead to more severe health issues. Access to community-based joint management programs can delay and reduce the need for joint replacement surgeries and connect people to peers and education support, dramatically enhancing daily management—particularly for those in rural and underserved areas.

Investing in these areas is not just compassionate; it is economically sound. British Columbia can lead the charge for equitable and timely access to arthritis care and set an example for other provinces. Dedicated provincial funding will enable patient-centred and accessible care for all British Columbians where and when they need it, while reducing healthcare spending for medication, surgeries, and comorbidities. 

We are failing our population in British Columbia, but the solutions are known. The healthcare outcomes will only improve if the government, healthcare professionals, and the arthritis community come together under one vision. It is time to step out of our siloes, focus on solutions, and get to work.  

With adequate funding and a collective commitment to change, we can look forward to a future free of arthritis and ensure that everyone in British Columbia, regardless of where they live, has access to the care and support they need to live full, pain-free lives.