Friends of Medicare welcomes new AHS CEO Vicki Kaminski. Kaminski is no stranger to the challenges of working in complex health care systems.  In 2009, when she became the head of the very troubled Eastern Health Authority Labrador and Newfoundland (EHALN), it was still reeling from the scandal-related to problems with breast screening from 1997 and 2005.  Many credit Kaminski with restoring the public's faith in the Newfoundland and Labrador health care system.

The $18.3 billion going to this year's Ministry of Health operational budget, which includes $10.7 billion going to the Alberta Health Services base operating grant, when considering population and inflation growth, means the government is cutting health care spending per person. The cuts include a $26 million cut to acute care services.

Sandra Azocar, Executive Director of Friends of Medicare, made the following statement today following the Alberta government's Throne Speech:

Friends of Medicare would like to extend a welcome to Mary A. Marshall who was appointed to a 6 month term as the Interim Health Advocate.

With the firing of the AHS Board, "the question that Albertans should be asking is why the Premier and the Minister of Health do not read the employment contracts that are offered to Executives before hiring them?.  They are the ones that are ultimately responsible for the decisions that are being made regarding the use of our public health dollars," indicates Sandra Azocar, Executive Director of Friends of Medicare.

Three years ago, the Alberta Government and then Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky proudly announced "Alberta's 5-year Health Action Plan". In this action plan it was noted that "within 5 years, Albertans can expect a stronger more integrated, province-wide health system." It would stand to reason that we can all assume that long term planning is carried out through a process that involves relying on committed money and not money contingent on the price of oil.

Friends of Medicare has learned that as of February 28th, 2013, the Royal Alexandra Hospital will be closing 18 beds in the Medicine Transition Unit.  The closure of these beds will result in the layoff of 31 LPN's and Nurse Aides as well as 2 service workers and 1 unit clerk.

Today, Minister Fred Horne announced a 5% increase in  charges for long-term care accommodations starting January 1st, 2013. He sweetened the blow to seniors by opening up with the announcement that he will offset this financial impact to our low income seniors by increasing financial assistance through the Alberta Seniors Benefit (ASB) and Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH).

Edmonton - Alberta Health Services (AHS) paid $738,000 in severance to an Executive Vice President, Andrew Will, who left in February, after only 18 months on this job. The payment also included $99,000 in "at risk pay" for the 18-month severance period. Friends of Medicare Executive Director Sandra Azocar says, "this is yet another insult to Alberta's health care workers and taxpayers, and we want the Auditor General to review it."

Friends of Medicare is concerned to hear that the new chair of the Alberta Health Services board, Stephen Lockwood, is a businessman who is an active supporter of both the Conservative and Wildrose party.