Action Needed for Accountable and Transparent Primary Care Networks

Friends of Medicare are pleased to see the review made public today by the Ministry of Health. Having long called for a review of Alberta's Primary Care Networks, Friends of Medicare are now calling for follow through to address the issues raised. The review found "instances where the PCN Administrative Leads were receiving remuneration that was higher than the guidelines provided", "the appropriateness of PCN spending for physician compensation was not clear," and "instances where PCNs were using public dollars on expenditures that were inappropriate".

Momentum for #nopaidplasma

Last week our Executive Director Sandra Azocar was in Winnipeg to present to the Board of Directors of Canadian Blood Services. She urged for action to support our voluntary blood and plasma collection while saying no to paid plasma.

You can read the text of Sandra's submission here.

Private Health Care Not There for Albertans During Downturn

Friends of Medicare are renewing their call for an audit of all private boutique clinics in Alberta in light of reports from CBC news of Calgary's Copeman clinic "discouraging patients who can't pay special fees from seeing their (Copeman's) doctors."

Following today's CBC story on the Copeman clinic Friends of Medicare are calling on the Provincial and Federal Governments to take responsibility for protecting the interests of patients and our public health care system. The story highlighted instances of both patients and Alberta Health Services paying for services, with additional strain on our public purse through tax deductions for Copeman patients.

Lab Report Confirms Lack of Evidence to Support Privatization

Friends of Medicare are encouraged by today's release of the Health Quality Council of Alberta
report confirming a lack of evidence was gathered to support the privatization of Edmonton and Northern Alberta lab services.

TPP the Wrong Prescription for a Healthy Democracy

Friends of Medicare are speaking out on the potential harm the Trans Pacific Partnership trade agreement will cause to Canada’s health system.

At House of Commons consultations in Calgary, Executive Director Sandra Azocar made the case that the TPP “limits Canadians ability to find democratic and public solutions to ongoing healthcare issues, most notably on pharmaceutical costs.”

Budget 2016 Provides Healthcare Stability in Tough Times

With funding increases of 3% for health care in 2016, Friends of Medicare are relieved to see population growth and inflation met with 2016 spending despite the economic downturn and pressures for funding cuts.

Audit of Copeman Clinic Applauded and Should be Expanded to Other Clinics

In light of the news that Health Minister Sarah Hoffman is initiating a long called for audit of the private-for-profit Copeman clinic, Friends of Medicare are calling on the Alberta Government to expand their audit beyond just Copeman.

Alberta Can Show Leadership in Banning Pay-for-Plasma

On March 31st, 2016 an Open Letter was sent to the Honorable Minister of Health Sarah Hoffman,  urging the Alberta government to  enact our own legislation banning the sale of blood and plasma as soon as possible in order to safeguard the health of Canadians and the integrity of our voluntary blood donation system:

Today March 31^st, marks 12 years since the last negotiation of a Canadian Health Accord. That accord had expired in 2014. We continue to see aggressive and increased privatization, from pay-for-plasma to private MRIs and much more. We have stalled on progress towards a national seniors strategy and still do not have a commitment to a national public drug plan. The need for a new accord is clear.