A mobile healthcare clinic has reached Kamloops’ citizens as medical access remains challenging for many.
The City and Interior Health (IH) have announced a purpose-built, mobile healthcare outreach van that supports access to health assessments, wound care, harm reduction services, wellness support and referrals to additional health and social services.
Its features include a wheelchair lift, a private treatment area, a medical examination bench, diagnostic equipment and naloxone kits.
With expanded storage to carry the described medical supplies, the program aims to support year-round service delivery and “…overcome transportation, mobility, and access-to-care barriers that can prevent individuals from receiving timely support.”
The expected healthcare outreach van will be open to all residents, including people experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity, older adults, individuals with mobility of accessible needs, and those who are connected with IH outreach services.
In October of last year, the Kamloops and District Chamber of Commerce called for action on the healthcare gap in the city. “Families are struggling to access maternity care, many residents remain without family doctors,” the press release said.
Almost a year since then, other advancements have taken place such as the upgraded emergency area at the Royal Inland Hospital or a fully staffed health clinic which opened last year.
Though these prove an effort to improve access healthcare, B.C.’s “specialists wait times in 2026 remain among the longest in Canada,” many patients waiting since 2025, reported BC Medical Access.
Within TRU, although almost immediate health supports are available through the Wellness Centre, Sexualized Violence Prevention and Response and the Counselling Services office, the need for prompt medical access is something students might look forward to without having to wait hours in the emergency room. Especially international students, who may not have a family doctor available.
This project aims to directly address that issue for everyone in the city of Kamloops, including students.
Interior Health, which brought over 83 trained health professionals from the United States, is providing the outreach staff and services. The City of Kamloops provided the funding and purchased the van.
The project received $350,000 through the federal Emergency Treatment Fund (ETF) which was, according to the Government of Canada’s website, created to “provide urgent, targeted funding to municipalities and Indigenous communities to support rapid responses to the overdose crisis.”
Because this mobile outreach healthcare van intends to support all residents of Kamloops and its urgent need for medical access, it fits under Health Canada’s requirement for the fund.
Across Western Canada, B.C., 20 cities out of 34 were recipients out of the $30 million plus funding the Government of Canada provided. The City and IH’s application was one alongside other organizations and communities with similar initiatives across Saskatchewan, Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick and Alberta.
But this year doesn’t mark the first time the government has funded the first mobile outreach van.
In 2022, in the middle of the creation of the ETF (which was first launched as a one-time emergency funding as part of Budget 2018, and later relaunched in 2024 backed by Budget 2024’s $150 million over three years), Health Canada announced nearly $40 million in funding to support people who use substances across Canada.
Since then, many outreach healthcare vans have been funded and created in Canada’s provinces.
In 2022, this fund was provided to Sanguen Health Centre for their health van in Waterloo, Ont. and Sunshine House Incorporated for their motor vehicle in Winnipeg, Man.
With urgency in medical availability, this project also aims to ensure safety, accessibility and a dignifying environment for residents.
The City of Kamloops’ spokesperson for this project has been contacted. Due to the provincial elections taking place, they are unable to speak with the press for further information on this van.