UCP health policy announcement insupportable
MARCH 28, 2019
MEDIA RELEASE
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UCP health policy announcement insupportable: Leadership is needed to introduce proven public solutions to strengthen our public health care |
Today’s health policy announcement from Jason Kenney, leader of the United Conservative Party, made clear that he and his party are not interested in finding public solutions to improve and expand our public health care system. Kenney presented Albertans with the UCP’s “Surgical Wait Time Reduction Plan,” and confirmed that if elected, his party would introduce policy to mirror the Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative. He touted their achievements and successes; however, he did not disclose how much money they would need to invest in contracting out and privatizing public surgeries, nor where this money would be coming from.
Read moreNDP wait times announcement a step in the right direction
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Alberta health care can be better -- NDP wait times announcement is a step in the right direction |
Nobody should have to wait for longer than necessary for a surgery that they need, and today's announcement of a $90 million per year strategic investment will address some of the immediate issues that are pressing for Albertans. Rachel Notley promised that if the NDP are re-elected, they are committed to providing funding increases for cancer surgeries, open heart surgeries and cataract surgeries, while all other surgeries would also see an increase over the three years. The announcement also included a promise to increase access to specialists directly from the ER, and to expand emergency psychiatrist access to 24 hours.
"When asked, almost all of us will have a wait time story to tell. We have had to wait in emergency departments, wait to see family physicians, wait for tests, procedures and surgeries," said Sandra Azocar, Executive Director of Friends of Medicare. "These investments are great first steps from which to build on. We are hopeful that some of this investment will also go towards addressing the systemic issues that have created the wait lists that we Albertans experience."
