May 24, 2022
EDMONTON

Support for EMS is urgently needed this Paramedic Services Week

Friends of Medicare's statement on Paramedic Services Week 2022:

This week is Paramedic Services Week, and Friends of Medicare would like to take this opportunity to recognize the instrumental role that paramedics play in our health care system—and especially when a public health crisis is at hand. 

This Op-Ed by FOM's Executive Director, Chris Gallaway, originally appeared in the Red Deer Advocate on May 20, 2022.

Last night, Jason Kenney announced his decision to resign as UCP Leader after receiving 51.4% in his leadership review. Details of a process to replace him have yet to be announced.

This change in leadership is happening at a time when Albertans are struggling with a health care system in chaos; surgeries are again being cancelled due to short staffing, families are having to line up outside of Emergency Rooms to get in, EMS red alerts are becoming increasingly common, and tens of thousands of folks are struggling to find a family doctor.

Friends of Medicare to participate in events in five cities calling on the provincial government to put people before profit

May 12, 2022
EDMONTON

Nurses deserve support and respect during Nurses Week, and year-round

Friends of Medicare's statement on National Nursing Week 2022:

This week is National Nursing Week, with May 12 marking International Nurses Day. Friends of Medicare would like to take this opportunity to recognize the instrumental role that nurses play throughout every aspect of our health care system—a role that has been amplified and become all the more vital as we battle the disastrous consequences of a worldwide pandemic.

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.

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.

April 27, 2022
EDMONTON

The Day of Mourning: Statement from Friends of Medicare

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. 

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.”