---
title: "BC NDP promises tuition discounts and a new training program for rural health workers"
description: "David Eby announced a plan on October 9 to address health-care staffing in rural BC, including tuition discounts, loan forgiveness, and a new training path for international medical graduates."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/bc/provincial-2026/news/bc-ndp-rural-health-workers-tuition-international-grads-october-2026"
last_updated: "2026-10-10T04:06:49.118Z"
---

BC NDP leader [David Eby](/bc/provincial-2026/candidates/david-eby) announced a set of health-care promises on October 9 aimed at getting more doctors and nurses into rural communities and cutting wait times across the province. CityNews Vancouver reported the announcements from a campaign stop in Surrey, at the site of a new medical school.

## A new path for international medical graduates

Eby said an NDP government would create a "bridging to practice" training program for qualified international medical graduates already living in BC. Many of these people cannot practice family medicine because there are not enough residency spots available, CityNews Vancouver reported. Eby said the program would be the first of its kind in Canada and he hopes other provinces copy it.

## Support for health workers who move to rural BC

The NDP plan would offer discounted tuition, loan forgiveness, and help with moving expenses for health-care workers willing to go to underserved rural areas of the province, CityNews Vancouver reported. Eby also said an NDP government would create incentives for doctors to offer same-day appointments and evening and weekend care.

## More training seats and clinics

Eby said the NDP would add 1,000 training seats for nurses, nurse practitioners, allied health workers, and care aides, according to CityNews Vancouver. The plan also includes 20 new primary care clinics across BC.

## What this means for you

## If you are a health-care worker or student considering working in rural BC, or if you are an international medical graduate living in BC who cannot practice, these are promises that could affect your career options. The NDP would need to win the October 24 election for any of these to take effect. You can check your voting options and find your voting place at Elections BC. Advance voting runs October 16 to 21.

## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](/bc/provincial-2026/sitemap.md) for all pages.