Blog

Friends of Medicare Submission to WCB Review

July 14, 2016 12:41 PM

The Government of Alberta is requesting submissions for a review of the Workers' Compensation Board.

We've made our submission with a focus on health care delivery and the WCB, with 7 recommendations below.

Read our submission online, and you can make your own to [email protected] but make it quick - the deadline is Friday, July 15.

WCB has also provided a Workbook if you're looking for further inspiration on areas of possible improvement in the system.

Read more
Share

From our Treasurer Elisabeth Ballermann

July 12, 2016 5:00 AM

Moving Forward with Friends of Medicare

With Sandra Azocar after being given the 2016 Public Service Award by Public Interest AlbertaTo the members and supporters of Friends of Medicare,

I'm writing to you today to let you know of changes in the works for Friends of Medicare's board of directors. Since approximately 1997, I've been representing the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) on Friends of Medicare's board in various capacities, including as FOM Treasurer for a number of years. That's all about to change. On June 26, I was elected the Secretary-Treasurer of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE). That means that after August 19, I will no longer be the president of HSAA, but will represent public sector workers across Canada as the NUPGE Secretary-Treasurer. Therefore my primary focus will no longer be on issues just in Alberta.

Read more
Share

Alberta Can and Should Ban Pay-for-Plasma

April 28, 2016 4:40 PM

Alberta can and should ban pay-for-plasma

Canadian Blood Services (CBS) aren’t doing their job, so it’s time the Alberta government step in.

Read more
Share

Why are people talking about Sundre?

April 01, 2016 2:38 PM

Why are people talking about Sundre?

sundre.png

Photo credit: AUPE

Albertans clearly voted to expand public long term care delivery, not shrink it. The Alberta NDP platform had promised 500 public beds to open per year, and we are now almost a year into our new governments mandate. We still do not have details for any publicly delivered long-term care beds, and now there are plans to close 15 beds.

We have noticed a bit of confusion around the planned closure of long-term care beds in Sundre, so we wanted to provide more background information to detail what has happened, why it’s an issue, and what people can do about it.

Read more
Share

Guest Blog - What's Happening in Sundre?

March 27, 2016 11:16 AM

What's happening in Sundre?

wodak.jpg Carol Wodak, March 27, 2016

Note: We're pleased to feature a guest blog post from respected elder care advocate Carol Wodak. Carol is a valuable resource on issues and information relating to continuing care, and has put together some facts and her perspective on what's happening with the closure of 15 publicly delivered long-term care spaces in Sundre, while seeing the opening of a supportive living facility operated privately by Mountain View Seniors' Housing.

Read more
Share

Calgary-Greenway By-Election Survey

March 18, 2016 3:53 PM

Putting Health Care on the Agenda in Calgary-Greenway

Voters are already voting in advance in Calgary-Greenway, with election day coming up right away on Tuesday, March 22nd.

For more information on voting in the by-election visit Elections Alberta. 

Friends of Medicare has sent a survey* to each of the candidates asking their positions on important health care issues.

Read more
Share

Alberta Fertility Privatization is the Wrong Direction

January 12, 2016 11:50 AM

Alberta Fertility Privatization is the Wrong Direction

You may have seen the January 11, 2016 Edmonton Journal article about the private fertility clinic opening in Edmonton.

Following that we were able to discuss the issue with 630 CHED.

Albertans voted explicitly for public health care in 2015, in funding, and in delivery. Clearly stated in the Alberta NDP platform, they would "end the PCs' costly experiments in privatization, and redirect the funds to publicly delivered services." 

Read more
Share

December 9 News Roundup

December 09, 2015 3:20 PM
We're pleased to share a joint opinion piece from today's Edmonton Journal with you written by Public Interest Alberta's Seniors Task Force Chair and our Executive Director Sandra Azocar. They've highlighted ongoing issues in continuing care and offer up solutions to help better regulate private care while moving towards greater public involvement.

 

We think it's an important conversation to be having and encourage you to share via your networks:
http://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-shift-continuing-care-to-public-sector
Read more
Share

National Medicare Week - Write Your MP!

December 01, 2015 3:16 PM

Via our partners in the Canadian Health Coalition

"November 29 - December 5, 2015 is National Medicare Week, an important moment to celebrate our public health care system that is the pride of our nation. It is also a crucial time to focus on our vision for public health care moving forward. 
Read more
Share

November 10 Update

November 10, 2015 5:30 PM

Nov 10 Update to Members - Open House and More

We wanted you to be able to save the date for the upcoming Holiday Open House that we are co-hosting with the Alberta Labour History Institute, Public Interest Alberta and the Worker's Health Centre.

This will be on Tuesday, December 1 from 4 - 7 pm, at our new office:
6th floor-12323 Stony Plain Rd NW, Edmonton.

 
Read more
Share
Sign in with Facebook Sign in with Twitter Sign in with Email
Subscribe with RSS