Surrey, B.C. – In a significant move to address the growing demand for family doctors and accessible medical care, the City of Surrey has launched a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking an experienced health care partner to open and operate a network of community-based medical clinics across the city. Alongside this initiative, the City is also hiring a Health Care Administrator to oversee the new clinics, ensuring delivery, performance, and accountability.
“Surrey is Canada’s fastest growing big city, and too many families are going without timely primary care,” said Mayor Brenda Locke. “While health care is a provincial responsibility, our residents need solutions now. Surrey is stepping up strategically and collaboratively to bring in more family doctors, relieve pressure on emergency rooms, and improve health outcomes. By pairing a top-tier operating partner with a new Health Care Administrator, we are building the capacity, governance, and partnerships to deliver results for Surrey residents.”
Currently, Surrey has approximately 59 family physicians per 100,000 residents, less than half the ratio seen in Vancouver, which has 136 per 100,000. The City’s RFP aims to close this gap by finding a proven operator to develop and manage multiple clinics through an equity-focused, neighbourhood-based approach.
The successful proponent will be responsible for identifying priority clinic locations, planning and designing the sites, managing operations, and maintaining high-quality patient care. They will also be tasked with recruiting and retaining family doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals to meet the city’s growing health care needs.
A key element of the initiative is a partnership with Simon Fraser University’s new School of Medicine, which opens next fall. The clinics will serve as teaching sites to train the next generation of family doctors and health professionals directly within the Surrey community.
“Surrey’s approach is practical and ambitious,” Mayor Locke added. “We’re matching local leadership with provincial partnerships, aligning with SFU’s new medical school, and insisting on clear performance standards. This is how we close care gaps quickly and sustainably.”
The City of Surrey expects to select a preferred health care partner by the end of 2025, with the first clinics scheduled to open by mid-2026, marking a major milestone in strengthening primary care access for residents across the city.