EDMONTON — Earlier today, the Premier released new mandate letters for the four ministers now responsible for pieces of our public health care system.
The mandate letters include repeating the government’s destructive agenda when it comes to chaotic restructuring, surgical privatization, activity-based hospital funding, and pushing forward with a plan for forced treatment.
“The government release talks about a bold new era for health care, but the truth is, this is just more of the government’s same old, tired agenda that’s been hurting Albertans’ access to the public health care they need and deserve,” said Chris Gallaway, executive director of Friends of Medicare. “Our health care is in crisis, but these letters do nothing to meaningfully address that. What we really need is a government laser-focused on the chronic short-staffing throughout our health care. Alberta urgently needs action on a workforce plan and a plan to increase capacity in a growing province.”
Especially concerning in the letter for the Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services is a mandate for “passing legislation to allow Albertans more choice and access to preventative health services including elective testing, screening and other diagnostic services.”
“Every time this government talks about choice in health care, what they really mean is further privatization, and Albertans paying more out of pocket for the care that they need,” said Gallaway. “We don’t need new legislation creating more barriers to health care. We need a government that takes public health and preventative health care seriously, not one making anti-evidence decisions such as charging Albertans out of pocket for vaccines.”
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