Healthcare

The health sector in Chilliwack is as diverse as the government agencies, NGOs, volunteers and private  sector businesses that keep the community well-served and healthy.
There is a wide variety of community health services in Chilliwack, including Chilliwack Community Services (volunteers, directory of services, counseling and crisis line), Chilliwack Mental Health (counseling), Fraser-Cheam Home Support, and a number of facilities offering adult day programs, transportation  services, meal service and rehabilitation services. A dedicated core of volunteers supports these services,  ensuring that Chilliwack remains a healthy community for young and old alike.

EMPLOYMENT
The health sector is responsible for employing more than 10% of the local labour force and generating 8% of all community income. Chilliwack General Hospital is the City’s largest health sector employer with about 1,400 employees and approximately 55 general practitioners and 25 specialists. The community as a  whole is home to 43 dentists and 235 physicians, including General Practitioners, Emergency Room, and locum physicians.
Employment and economic activity in the health care sector can be expected to increase as the population grows and ages, generating more demand for a full range of health-related services. In fact, per capita
health care spending has risen dramatically over the past 20 years as the baby boom generation ages. Changes in the way health care dollars are spent will also have implications for the local economy. The share of expenditures for hospital and doctor services will continue to decline while spending on health care professionals other than doctors and alternative health services will increase. The long-term trends in health care have implications for economic development as the private sector will assume a more  prominent role in the provision and delivery of services.