The Town of Osoyoos is moving forward with a feasibility study looking into a possible Osoyoos Community Health Centre.

Last week council picked the consultant to do the study after reviewing three proposals. They’ve already obtained a provincial grant to do the study.

The decision to look into this follows a petition last year calling for, among other things, a walk-in clinic in Osoyoos.

That petition gathered well over 1,000 signatures, showing that healthcare is a top-of-mind issue for the people in Osoyoos.

Town council and administration met with doctors, other health professionals and stakeholders to hear their views. In short, they listened and acted.

In a town where many people still can’t get a family doctor and where some services require extensive travel and long waits, there is clearly a need.

We’ve heard from some town residents who suggest that when we already know the need, there is no reason we need a study.

Unfortunately it’s not as simple as in the 1980s film Field of Dreams where Kevin Costner’s character was told, “If you build it, they will come.”

Simply building or leasing a structure for a medical facility doesn’t ensure that health professionals will come.

Nor does it address the issues of what services are most needed and how they will complement the health services that already exist in Osoyoos and area.

As U.S. President Donald Trump belatedly realized a year ago, “Nobody knew healthcare could be so complicated,” Coun. Mike Campol reminded council last week.

We all have many ideas about where the shortcomings are, but there are still many questions to answer before such a facility can move forward.

What services can realistically be provided here?

Can the necessary healthcare providers be recruited and how?

What needs are now being adequately met both by health professionals in Osoyoos and by others in Oliver or Penticton.

How do our changing demographics affect future needs?

How will such a facility be constructed or leased and operated? How can it be funded both initially and on an ongoing basis?

Does the Town of Osoyoos have a role in providing such a facility and if so, what should that role be.

Is there a role for the private sector or should it primarily be a public facility. What is the right mix of private and public?

What models exist elsewhere in B.C. and other parts of Canada that we can emulate or learn from?

For council to move forward without first addressing these questions would be negligent. Council must do its due diligence, and like it or not, a study is necessary.

There are some trends both here and elsewhere that seem to be emerging as best practices.

And some provinces have gone further in this direction than others.

The idea of putting medical services and health-related non-medical services under one roof is a growing trend.

In some places there is a growing use of nurse practitioners to address medical needs that don’t require a doctor.

Healthcare is by far the largest cost faced by the provincial government. The challenge of containing costs while ensuring that the needs of an aging population are met is a constant balancing act.

By no means does this study guarantee that an Osoyoos Community Health Care Centre will go forward.

But without a thorough and comprehensive feasibility study, it’s a safe bet it will not happen.

Instead of complaining every time town council does anything, on this one they’ve listened. Let’s give credit where it’s due.