CHARLiE and MaBAL Return to 24/7 Operations for Rural BC

As of July 1, rural physicians across British Columbia once again have around-the-clock access to two Real-Time Virtual Support (RTVS) pathways: CHARLiE (Child Health Advice in ReaL-time Electronically) and MaBAL (Maternity and Babies Advice Line). Available by Zoom or telephone and operated by the Rural Coordination Centre of BC (RCCbc), these pathways connect rural providers with real-time pediatric and maternity/women's health support, day or night.

Since October 2025, CHARLiE and MaBAL had been running on a reduced, 12-hour, overnight-only schedule due to an outdated funding model. New funding to restore full 24/7 operations was recently announced by the BC Government and Doctors of BC as part of the Physician Main Agreement (PMA).

Starting in April 2027, the PMA also secures three years of operational funding for the entire RTVS program, to be overseen by the Joint Standing Committee on Rural Issues. For the 2026–27 fiscal year, the RTVS operations budget continues to be funded directly by the Ministry of Health, as it has been in the past.

This restoration is a win led by RCCbc. Committing to sustainment of RTVS and other rurally oriented virtual services was also one of BCCFP's asks to government at our Advocacy Day at the BC Legislature in May, based on member feedback and extensive engagement with rural partners. Sustaining these services improves patient safety, reduces unnecessary transfers, and supports retention of rural physicians.

Beyond CHARLiE and MaBAL, other RTVS suite provides immediate, real-time, unscheduled, peer-to-peer clinical decision support across emergency medicine, pediatrics, maternity, critical care, and internal medicine, along with access to 11 additional specialist pathways staffed by clinicians trained in the rural context, and a three-way video consultation service for pre-booked appointments with a primary care provider and specialist.