Alberta Can Show Pride by Removing Barriers to Trans Health Care

Unequal access to hormone replacement therapy causing wait times

Friends of Medicare are calling on the Government of Alberta to mark Calgary Pride week by removing barriers to health care for trans patients, and end the practice of unequal access to hormone replacement therapy.

New Dental Fee Guide Fails to Tackle Affordability Issues

After waiting for 20 years for a public Dental Fee Guide, Albertans will only see a 3% reduction of the fees currently being charged by dentists in this province. "For years Albertans have been paying almost double of what the rest of Canadians pay for dental services. A mere 3% reduction being proposed will do nothing to address the issue of affordability which currently prevents Albertans from accessing dental care," says Sandra Azocar, Executive Director with Friends of Medicare.

Health Advocates Applaud Universal Mifegymiso Coverage

Friends of Medicare are pleased to see Alberta Health Minister Sarah Hoffman announce universal coverage for the abortion pill mifegymiso today.

"Today's announcement will be especially important to women in rural communities who would normally have to travel to Edmonton or Calgary for abortion," said Executive Director Sandra Azocar. "Our health system should be based on the principle of equitable access to services regardless of your postal code, and covering mifegymiso for all Albertans follows that principle."

Canadian Health Advocates to Premiers: Stand up for Public Health Care

Health care advocates from across the country gathered in Edmonton today at a rally outside the Hotel Macdonald to call on Canada’s Premiers to fight for patients and call for fair federal funding for health care.

Pure North Funding Cancellation Welcomed

Friends of Medicare are pleased to see that Alberta's Minister of Health Sarah Hoffman has cancelled funding for the Precision Health clinic operated by Pure North after CBC News revealed the clinic had been offering unproven treatment to a patient.

Budget 2017 Resists Pressure to Cut Needed Health Services

Major Work Needs to Begin on Expanding and Improving Universal Public Care

Friends of Medicare are pleased to see funding increases of 3.2% which will cover spending pressures in inflation and population growth. Friends of Medicare are also glad to see the government willing to resist wrong headed calls to cutback an already stretched system.

Voluntary Blood Donations Act Applauded By Public Health Advocates

Friends of Medicare are applauding Alberta Minister of Health Sarah Hoffman on the introduction of Bill 3, the "Voluntary Blood Donations Act", which aims to protect the voluntary blood and plasma collection system in Alberta by banning the sale of plasma in the province.

Canada's Health Coalitions Call for a United Health Accord

Federal Government Must Return to the Negotiation Table

Canada’s Health Coalitions signed a joint statement and held a media conference today on the recent bilateral health care deals and called for a united health accord.

The statement follows:

Hinton needs long-term care now

Family members with loved ones in care in Hinton were joined this morning by Public Interest Alberta Executive Director, Joel French, and Friends of Medicare Executive Director, Sandra Azocar, to call on the provincial government to take action to support Hinton residents in need of long-term care. The community had long-term care beds built by the Good Samaritan Society with government support in 2002, but the PC government in 2005 downgraded the beds to supportive living, and the community has been without long-term care ever since.