$356,000 TRU funding to improve B.C.’s health sector

KAMLOOPS – TRU announced today the institution will receive $356,000 of $1.5 million in government funding for 43 new health education spaces.

The announcement was made at Thompson Rivers University which is one of seven post-secondary institutions receiving funding to support students and B.C.'s health sector according to a media release from the province.

The one-time funding of $1.5 million will create an additional 188 student spaces in short-term health education programs, including mental health and addictions and health-care assistant training, at public colleges and universities throughout B.C.

The funding, which is targeted at health programs running for one year or less, was awarded after public post-secondary institutions answered a call for proposals.

The intention behind the one-time funding for short-term health education programs is to address the immediate needs of specific communities that do not have sufficient student and employer demand to support a program on a long-term, ongoing basis. B.C.'s post-secondary institutions are helping address the needs of the health-care system by offering students skills and training they believe will result in graduates who can serve communities effectively in a variety of health-care professions.

The government has been funding short-term health education programs annually since 2008. Total funding is over $13 million, which has created 1,647 spaces.

In addition to $356,000 in one-time funding for 43 seats in its health-care assistant program, Thompson Rivers University also received $100,000 to support its respiratory therapy program from the Provincial Health Services Authority.