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. 

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).

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.

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:

Alberta Health's expenses are budgeted at $18.9 billion in 2015-2016, about $160 million lower than 2014-2015.  Health will see a $950 million cut in 2015-16 through "significant restraint measures" by Alberta Health Services (AHS), cuts to Primary Care Networks (PCNs), and drug cost savings.

Today the Alberta Government released its Rural Health Services Review report. It highlighted and validated a number of concerns that rural Albertans have been sharing for a long time.

Health Minister Stephen Mandel and Alberta Health Services (AHS) CEO Vickie Kaminski held a press conference today to announce measures that aim to improve access to health care. However, the announcement raised more questions than answers. Mandel announced that they will be 'reallocating' $50 million from existing health care funds to the Peter Lougheed Hospital, South Health Campus, Misericordia Hospital, Royal Alexandra Hospital, and Grey Nuns Hospital to renovate and expand ER facilities.

February 19, 2015
EDMONTON

Yesterday Finance Minister Robin Campbell said the government is "keen" on the idea of bringing back health care premiums.