Annual Reports
Last updated on December 12, 2024Since 1993, the Provincial Health Officer has been required by the Public Health Act to report annually to British Columbians on their health status and on the need for policies and programs that will improve their health. Some of the reports produced to date have given a broad overview of health status while others have focused on particular topics such as food, air quality, drinking water quality, immunization, injection drugs, First Nations health, injury prevention, school health, and public health approach to alcohol policy. Reports by the Provincial Health Officer are one means for reporting on progress toward the provincial health goals, which were adopted by the province in 1997.
Examining the Societal Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic (PDF, 11.1MB)
Released: December 2024
This is a joint report with the BC Centre for Disease Control, and includes contributions from Métis Nation BC and the First Nations Health Authority. The report summarizes the findings of an initiative called Examining the Societal Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The project and this compilation report explore the experiences of British Columbians early in the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2021), with the goal of identifying, monitoring, and reporting on positive and negative consequences of response measures implemented to curb the spread of COVID-19. This work informed response measures during the pandemic and can assist in future pandemic response plans.
View Executive Summary (PDF, 507KB)
Since the chapters of this report were originally released as individual Issues Reports within the project, this report can be used in whole or in part:
Chapter 1: The Pandemic Response (PDF, 1.9MB)
Chapter 2: Anti-Asian Racism, Stigma, and Discrimination (PDF, 858KB)
Chapter 3: Gender-based Violence (PDF, 387KB)
Chapter 4: Unemployment and Underemployment (PDF, 642KB)
Chapter 5: Food Insecurity (PDF, 516KB)
Chapter 6: Métis Food (In)security and Food as Medicine (PDF, 2.6MB)
Chapter 7: Missed or Delayed Routine Childhood Immunizations (PDF, 463KB)
Chapter 8: Emergency Department Use (PDF, 505KB)
Chapter 9: Selected Communicable Diseases other than COVID-19 (PDF, 466KB)
Chapter 10: Mental Health (PDF, 595KB)
Chapter 11: Social Isolation of Residents in Long-term Care & Assisted Living (PDF, 281KB)
Chapter 12: Self-harm & Suicide (PDF, 512KB)
Chapter 13: Problematic Alcohol Use (PDF, 529KB)
Chapter 14: Increased Overdose Harms and Deaths (PDF, 2.5MB)
Chapter 15: Discussion and Recommendations (PDF, 1.8MB)
Supplement A: FNHA’s Statement on the Societal Consequences of BC’s COVID-19 Response (PDF, 288KB)
Supplement B: Priority-setting Framework (PDF, 216KB)
Taanishi Kiiya? Miiyayow Métis Saantii Pi Miyooayaan Didaan BC (PDF, 12.4MB)
Released: February 2022
This is a joint report by the Office of the PHO and Métis Nation British Columbia. The report provides a baseline assessment of the health and wellness of Métis people in BC. The report also identifies four priorities and four recommendations to improve Métis health and wellness, and sets 15 targets to be achieved by 2030.
View Summary Description
First Nations Population Health and Wellness Agenda (PDF, 22.9MB)
Released: June 2021
This is a joint report by the Office of the PHO and the Office of the Chief Medical Officer at the First Nations Health Authority. The report explores First Nations health and wellness using a new suite of 22 indicators that will be monitored over the next 10 years.
View Summary Description
Taking the Pulse of the Population: An Update on the Health of British Columbians (PDF, 7.6MB)
Released: January 2019
This report provides a comprehensive overview on the health of British Columbians using the 36 performance measures identified in Promote, Protect Prevent: Our Health Begins Here. BC’s Guiding Framework for Public Health (the Guiding Framework). It explores each of the nine areas identified in the Guiding Framework: overarching measures, healthy living and healthy communities, maternal child and family health, positive mental health and prevention of substance harms, communicable disease prevention, injury prevention, environmental health, public health emergency management, and health surveillance. Each performance measure is evaluated for progress in moving toward the associated 10-year target, and examined by socio-demographic and other variables when possible (e.g., by sex, age, health authority). The report concludes with seven recommendations that are intended to advance the health of British Columbians and move the population toward our provincial targets by 2023.
The Provincial Health Officer’s presentation (PDF, 1.8MB) summarizes the report.
Is "Good", Good Enough? The Health and Well-Being of Children & Youth in BC (PDF, 6.1MB)
Released: November, 2016
Updated: May 2017 (Corrections to Figures 21.4 and 21.5)
This report examines 51 indicators of child and youth health and well-being in BC.
The Provincial Health Officer's presentation (PDF, 1.3MB) summarizes the report.
View Summary Description.
Released: March, 2016
This report examines road safety and motor vehicle crashes in BC.
The Provincial Health Officer’s presentation (PDF, 1.2MB) summarizes the report.
View Summary Description.
Released: July, 2014
This report examines the HIV epidemic in BC among gay and bisexual men.
The Provincial Health Officer's presentation (PDF, 6.9MB) summarizes the report.
View Summary Descriptions
Lower the Stakes: A Public Health Approach to Gambling in British Columbia (PDF, 6.8MB)
Released: October, 2013
This report examines gambling trends in BC from a public health perspective.
The Provincial Health Officer's presentation (PDF, 2.7MB) summarizes the report.
View Summary Descriptions
The Health and Well-Bein
g of Women in British Columbia (PDF, 5.9MB)
Released: December, 2011
This report provides an update to the 1995 Provincial Health Officer’s Feature Report: Women’s Health.
There is also a technical appendix (PDF, 867KB) titled "A focus on Women: Surveillance of Chronic Conditions."
The Provincial Health Officer's presentation (PDF, 931KB) summarizes the report.
Released: June, 2009
This report provides an update to the 2001 Provincial Health Officer’s report on the health and well-being of Aboriginal people in B.C.
There is also a technical appendix containing data tables (PDF, 1.0MB) as well as the following Excel documents containing additional regional and other data:
Chapter 2 – Determinants of Health – Charts and Data (XLS, 206KB)
Chapter 3 – Healthy Beginning: Pregnancy, Infants, Children – Charts and Data (XLS, 439KB)
Chapter 4 – Disease and Injuries: Chronic Conditions – Charts and Data Part A (XLS, 591KB)
Chapter 4 – Disease and Injuries: Chronic Conditions – Charts and Data Part B (XLS, 535KB)
Chapter 4 – Disease and injuries: Mortality - Charts and Data (XLS, 887KB)
Chapter 6 – Health Services: Charts and Data (XLS, 1.1MB)
The Provincial Health Officer's presentation (PDF, 3.5MB) summarizes the report.
View Summary Descriptions
An Ounce of Prevention Revisited (PDF, 3.1MB)
Released: March, 2008
This report provides a review of health promotion and selected outcomes for children and youth in B.C. schools.
View Summary Descriptions
PHO's Annual Report (2005): Food, Health and Well-being in British Columbians (PDF, 6.4MB)
This report intends to inform British Columbians of the role of food and nutrition in the lives of people in BC.
The Provincial Health Officer's presentation (PDF, 2.3MB) summarizes the report.
View Summary Descriptions
PHO's Annual Report (2004): The Impacts of Diabetes on the Health and Well-being of British Columbians (PDF, 3.6MB)
This report intends to inform British Columbians of the status of diabetes with a focus on recommendations for improvements in prevention and management of diabetes in BC.
The Provincial Health Officer's presentation (PDF, 1.8MB) summarizes the report.
View Summary Descriptions
PHO's Annual Report (2003): Every Breath You Take… Air Quality in British Columbia, a Public Health Perspective (PDF, 3.8MB)
This report focuses on air quality in B.C, including indoor and outdoor air pollutants and their health effects.
The Provincial Health Officer's presentation (PDF, 1.2MB) summarizes the report.
View Summary Descriptions
PHO's Annual Report (2002): The Health and Well-being of People in BC (PDF, 3.1MB)
This report details progress towards achieving B.C.’s health goals that were established in 1996. The Provincial Health Officer also provides tangible social, economic, environmental, and health targets for focusing our collective efforts and improving the health and well-being of B.C.’s citizens and communities.
The Provincial Health Officer's presentation (PDF, 1.4MB) summarizes the report.
View Summary Descriptions
PHO's Annual Report (2001): The Health and Well-being of Aboriginal People in BC (PDF, 11MB)
This report provides an update on British Columbia’s progress toward the goal of improved health for Aboriginal people.
The Provincial Health Officer's presentation (PDF, 828KB) summarizes the report.
View Summary Descriptions
PHO's Annual Report (2000): Drinking Water Quality in BC: The Public Health Perspective (PDF, 1.2MB)
This report provides information on current drinking water quality issues including the regulation and management of B.C.’s water systems, Canadian and international water quality guidelines and scientific evidence to guide public health decisions on safe drinking water.
The Provincial Health Officer's presentation (PDF, 181KB) summarizes the report.
View Summary Descriptions
PHO's Annual Report (1999): A Report on the Health of British Columbians (PDF, 1.6MB)
This report provides an update on progress toward achieving B.C.'s health goals and lays out the framework and a set of 93 indicators used to monitor the population's health.
Companion documents: Help Make BC Healthier (PDF 5.6K), regional highlights (PDF, 86KB) and a regional index (PDF, 211KB)
The Provincial Health Officer's presentation (PDF, 594KB) summarizes the report.
View Summary Descriptions
PHO's Annual Report (1998): Immunization (PDF, 1.4MB)
This report provides a review of the province's immunization programs and advocates for improvements in the current immunization system to achieve the best possible benefits to health for British Columbians.
View Summary Descriptions
Provincial Health Officer's Annual Report (1997): The Health and Well-being of British Columbia’s Children (PDF, 1.4MB)
This report focuses on the health and development of British Columbia's children and identifies actions to improve their health.
View Summary Descriptions