News

  • Victorian Order of Nurses Closure Another Example of Failure in Private Care

    After announcing today that they will be ceasing operations in Alberta, home care provider Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) have demonstrated yet again why experiments in private care must be ceased.
     
    "This is now twice since 2013 AHS has lost a contract for home care services," said Friends of Medicare Executive Director Sandra Azocar. "Home care should not be subject to the pressures of a competitive market. It's clear that instead of a race to the top for quality care, we have a race to the bottom to slash costs which squeezes out not-for-profit groups like VON."
    Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    November 25, 2015

  • New Ministers Advocacy On Pharmacare Welcomed

    june9tweet.JPG
    Pictured above - June 9 tweet from then Liberal MP Candidate Dr. Jane Philpott.
    Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    November 04, 2015

  • HEALTH ANNOUNCEMENT RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT LONG TERM CARE IN ALBERTA

    EDMONTON
    Today's announcement from Alberta's Ministry of Health to support the building of twenty-five new supportive living projects raises questions about the course of continuing care in Alberta.
    "Albertans voted for an expansion of public seniors health care, and that's what we're hoping to hear more of," said Sandra Azocar, Executive Director of Friends of Medicare. 
    Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    October 29, 2015

  • HEALTH SYSTEM SUPPORTED IN NEW BUDGET

    Alberta Health's expenses are budgeted at $19.7 billion for 2015-2016, which is an increase of $800 million from the budget initially issued in March 2015. This includes a promised funding increase of $10 million for needed mental health services.
     
    Friends of Medicare is pleased to see these increases in the new 2015-2016 budget.
    Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    October 27, 2015

  • COURT OF APPEAL DECISION IN ALLEN V. ALBERTA WELCOMED

    On September 9, 2015, Justices Peter Martin, Jack Watson, and Frans Slatter unanimously rejected the appeal put forward by lawyer John Carpay on behalf of Darcy Allen that prohibition on private health insurance in Alberta infringes on Mr. Allen's Charter rights. The rejection of this appeal affirms the decision from Justice P. R. Jeffrey of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench on April 2, 2014.
     
    "The rejection of Mr. Allen's appeal is not a rejection of access to health care, but rather recognition that allowing private insurance to determine Albertans' access to healthcare is not a solution to the problems in our public healthcare system," stated Sandra Azocar, Executive Director of Friends of Medicare.
    Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    September 11, 2015

  • FRIENDS OF MEDICARE DELIGHTED BY GOVERNMENT ACTION ON LAB SERVICES

    This afternoon, Minister of Health Sarah Hoffman announced a ministerial directive to cancel the request for proposal process for the privatization of laboratory services in Edmonton and northern Alberta. She is also undertaking a review of service delivery models, which we hope will include public consultations.
     
    "We are pleased to see this government is willing to learn from our previous government's mistakes, and is open to seeking public solutions to a public service," stated Sandra Azocar, Executive Director of Friends of Medicare.
    Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    August 13, 2015

  • FRIENDS OF MEDICARE APPLAUDS PRIMARY CARE NETWORK FINANCIAL REVIEW

    Friends of Medicare applauds the undertaking of a full financial review of the Primary Care Networks prior to any further financial and funding decisions being made. 

    "This is a great step towards fiscal responsibility, accountability, and stewardship over how our health dollars are being spent by these 42 PCNs," indicates Sandra Azocar, Executive Director of Friends of Medicare. 

    Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    August 05, 2015

  • FURTHER PRIVATIZATION OF LAB SERVICES WILL NOT SOLVE PUBLIC PROBLEMS

    We are asking Albertans to do the following: 

    1. Sign and share our online petition.
    2. Download a printable copy, have ten of your family members, friends, and neighbours sign it, and then mail it back to our office (our mailing address is printed on the bottom of the petition form).
    Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    July 29, 2015

  • Government Must Stop and Reverse Privatization of Laboratory Services in the Edmonton

    Since forming government our New Health Minister, Sarah Hoffman has been given the arduous task of sifting through past privatization misdeeds that will continue to haunt this new government unless they deal with them head on. In the past few weeks, and as reported by media sources, the contracting out of the Lab Services in the Edmonton and surrounding area to Sonic Healthcare have raised questions that require immediate answers.

    Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    July 09, 2015

  • Friends of Medicare Welcomes New Health Minister and Seniors Minister Sarah Hoffman

    Sandra Azocar, Executive Director of Friends of Medicare, issued the following statement today regarding the appointment of Sarah Hoffman as Alberta's new Minister of Health and Minister of Seniors:

    Friends of Medicare

    Written by
    May 25, 2015