News

Short-sighted cuts to insulin pump program will cost Albertans more for the care they need

Yesterday, the provincial government announced changes to its insulin pump benefits program, impacting up to 4,000 Albertans with diabetes. Instead, people will have to seek coverage via private workplace insurance plans, or government benefit plans, potentially leaving many Albertans subject to costly co-pays and premiums.

Alberta’s complex patchwork of private and public drug and supplementary health benefit plans has left far too many of us struggling to pay for the medications and treatments we need. An estimated 420 working-aged Canadians with diabetes die each year because they don't have adequate access to their medications.

Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
May 04, 2022

Short-sighted cuts to insulin pump program will cost Albertans more for the care they need

Yesterday, the provincial government announced changes to its insulin pump benefits program, impacting up to 4,000 Albertans with diabetes. Instead, people will have to seek coverage via private workplace insurance plans, or government benefit plans, potentially leaving many Albertans subject to costly co-pays and premiums.

Alberta’s complex patchwork of private and public drug and supplementary health benefit plans has left far too many of us struggling to pay for the medications and treatments we need. An estimated 420 working-aged Canadians with diabetes die each year because they don't have adequate access to their medications.

Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
May 04, 2022
Ending Discriminatory Blood Ban Good News for Canada’s Public Blood Supply

This morning, Health Canada approved Canadian Blood Services’ request to end the 3-month deferral period for men who have sex with men, effectively lifting the ban on their ability to donate blood and plasma.

Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
April 28, 2022
The Day of Mourning: Statement from Friends of Medicare

April 27, 2022
EDMONTON

The Day of Mourning: Statement from Friends of Medicare

Every year, on April 28, we recognize the National Day of Mourning. It is a day to commemorate workers who have been killed, injured or suffered illness while at work. It serves as an annual reminder that we have a collective, societal responsibility to keep each other safe in the workplace. This is especially true as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to compromise worker safety.

Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
April 27, 2022
Ophthalmology privatization puts private profits over public good

The government’s attempts to use the pandemic as political cover to sell off our vital public health care going into high gear.

Today, Health Minister Copping announced that the government would be moving forward with plans to further privatize Alberta’s surgical services, specifically our ophthalmology.

Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
April 22, 2022
Federal Budget Expansion of Dental Coverage Good News for Alberta Children

More work still needed on universal pharmacare, long-term care standards, paid sick leave, the drug poisoning crisis, and protecting public health care in Alberta

This afternoon the federal government tabled their budget for 2022-2023. It included items laid out in the Confidence and Supply Agreement with the NDP, most notably: adding dental care coverage for children 12 and under this year.

“Dental care is health care. Yet far too many Albertans have long been forced to forego necessary dental procedures due to cost-related barriers to access, and entrenched economic inequality,” said Chris Gallaway, executive director of Friends of Medicare. “The dental care commitment in today’s federal budget is good news for Alberta children, and we’re hopeful this will be the first step towards truly universal public dental care for all.”

Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
April 07, 2022
Instability in our health care leadership is the last thing Albertans need

Friends of Medicare deeply concerned that Dr. Yiu’s removal precedes the acceleration of the government’s privatization agenda

This morning, Alberta Health Services (AHS) announced the removal of Dr. Verna Yiu from her role as president and CEO. CTV News has since confirmed she was fired. There was a year left in Dr. Yiu’s contract, and the board did not offer any reason for her removal.

Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
April 04, 2022
Continuing Care Act falls short

Bill 11: Continuing Care Act does nothing to improve the quality of continuing care in Alberta

The Continuing Care Act, tabled yesterday by the UCP government, is woefully lacking in any meaningful changes to improve Alberta’s continuing care system. The Bill follows the government’s Facility-Based Continuing Care Review, and consolidates 15 pieces of current legislation that oversee our continuing care system.

Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
March 29, 2022
Government continues attacks on AB health care workers

Front-line Workers Deserve our Respect and Solidarity, not Wage Freezes and Rollbacks.

Over the weekend, Albertans learned that AUPE General Support Services members received an insulting package of bargaining proposals, including four years of 0% wage increases, as well as a variety of rollbacks to their collective agreement.

Just weeks after the government boasted about balancing the budget at the expense of our public services, they are forging ahead with their short-sighted austerity agenda by undermining front-line staff in an already overstretched health care system.

Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
March 28, 2022
Friends of Medicare Reaction to the Federal Confidence and Supply Agreement

Today’s agreement between the Liberals and NDP includes concrete action on universal Pharmacare and dental care in Canada

Written by Christopher Gallaway
March 22, 2022
Government must stop ignoring drug poisoning crisis

An evidence-based approach that includes harm reduction is urgently needed to save lives in Alberta

Despite 2021 being Alberta's deadliest year yet for fatal drug poisoning, today’s post-budget government release on their model for addiction and mental health continues to ignore the vital importance of harm reduction.

Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
March 15, 2022