Friends of Medicare would like to extend a welcome to Mary A. Marshall who was appointed to a 6 month term as the Interim Health Advocate.
The Health Advocate will be reporting directly to the Minister of Health, and as such he will be directing what the office deals with. "Given that the Health Advocate is not an independent office, we will continue to highlight the need for transparency and insist that all reports that are generated by this office are made public," stated Azocar.
Ms. Marshall will be guiding the finalization of regulations, refining the roles and responsibilities of the Health Advocate, and establishing the office to include the Seniors Advocate and the Mental Health Advocate. In doing so, it is Friends of Medicare's hope that she will look at how the government can impact real change in the systemic issues facing Alberta's health care system.
"The problems in our health care system do not need window-dressing; they need real solutions," said Azocar.
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