Office of the Provincial Health Officer - Province of British Columbia

The Provincial Health Officer is the senior public health official for BC, and is responsible for monitoring the health of the population of BC and providing independent advice to the ministers and public officials on public health issues.

The responsibilities of the Provincial Health Officer (PHO) are outlined in the Public Health Act. As the senior public health official for British Columbia, the PHO:

• Provides independent advice to the Ministers and public officials on public health issues;
• Monitors the health of the population of British Columbia and advises, in an independent manner, the ministers and public officials on public health issues and on the need for public health related legislation, policies and practices;
• Recommends actions to improve health and wellness in BC;
• Delivers reports that are in the public interest and annual reports on the health of the population and government’s progress in achieving population health targets;
• Establishes standards of practice for, and conducts performance reviews of Medical Health Officers; and
• Works with the BC Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, and BC’s Medical Health Officers to fulfill their legislated mandates on disease control and health protection.