governance
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Budget 2020 flatlines health care funding while cuts and privatization continue
Today's budget sees a flatlining of the health care budget for 2020, with a spending increase of a mere 0.3% over the next three fiscal years. A minimum of 2.9% additional funding is necessary to keep Alberta's health care spending in line with inflation and population growth each year – the spending freeze through 2023, as outlined in today's budget, will mean fewer public dollars spent in the health care system. In terms of the impact on Albertans, the spending freeze will amount to a 9% reduction in health care spending in the next three years.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
February 27, 2020 -
Friends of Medicare's response to the Throne Speech
Sandra Azocar, Executive Director of Friends of Medicare, made the following statement today following the Alberta government's Throne Speech:
The 2020 Throne Speech not only outlines business that the government will bring to the Legislative Assembly in the upcoming session, but also serves to direct the political discourse and narrative intended to shape and influence how we view and respond to the political challenges facing us.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
February 25, 2020 -
Unilaterally ripping up doctors agreements will leave Albertans paying more out of pocket
February 20, 2020
EDMONTONToday, Minister Shandro announced that his government would be terminating the current contract between the Alberta government and the Alberta Medical Association (AMA), and, as per the MacKinnon Report, using “legislative options” to make changes to physician compensation. No mention was made as to the resulting delisting of services from the Schedule of Medical Benefits (SOMB), which lists everything that physicians and health practitioners are able to bill for.
“As we have seen over the years, anytime services are delisted, the costs are passed down to patients,” says Sandra Azocar, Executive Director of Friends of Medicare.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
February 20, 2020 -
FOM's response to the AHS review
With the release of the much-awaited performance review of Alberta Health Services (AHS), Albertans will have to wait until May 2020 to fully understand the real life consequences that the recommendations will have on Albertans.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
February 03, 2020 -
Government setting the stage for the closure and possible relocation of existing supervised consumption Services
Government setting the stage for the closure and possible relocation of existing supervised consumption services
As reported in the media today, Premier Jason Kenney is already setting the stage for what could be the closure or relocation of Supervised Consumption Services (SCS) in Alberta. While the Supervised Consumption Services Review Committee was tasked with reporting to the government by the end of 2019, their report has yet to be publicly released.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
January 21, 2020 -
Black Friday announcements signal dark days ahead for public health care
Black Friday announcements signal dark days ahead for public health care
Announcements made on Black Friday of the loss of well over 5,100 front-line health care jobs highlights the deep disdain for public services that our current government holds.“These announcements were a clear move away from the collectivism that drives our social programs, a move away from the caring and compassion that is necessary to advance our society. It was a reiteration of a commitment to an endless quest to privatize our needed public services,” states Sandra Azocar, executive director of Friends of Medicare.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
December 02, 2019 -
Cuts to front-line staff is not the solution to balancing the budget and it is not what Albertans voted for
Cuts to front-line staff is not the solution to balancing the budget and it is not what Albertans voted for
On Friday morning, Albertans learned that 500 front-line Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses will lose their jobs over the next three years. The United Nurses of Alberta estimate this loss of staff will equate to more than a million fewer hours of care for patients.“In an already overstretched system, this attempt to save money by eliminating front-line staff can only be seen as nonsensical,” stated Sandra Azocar, executive director of Friends of Medicare.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
November 29, 2019 -
The future of Laboratory Services in Northern Alberta still uncertain under Budget 2019
The future of Laboratory Services in Northern Alberta still uncertain under Budget 2019
Budget 2019 released yesterday referred only briefly to the issue of laboratory services, indicating that we will see the removal of the Edmonton Clinical Laboratory Hub project, which was set to cost $579 Million. “Budget 2019 makes no mention or addresses any moneys being allocated to a future facility or to renew much needed equipment,” indicates Sandra Azocar, executive director of Friends of Medicare.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
October 28, 2019 -
Alberta Budget 2019
Restrained spending in budget 2019 is the wrong prescription for Alberta
Although budget 2019 sees a slight increase in spending in health care (1%), it does not meet inflation and population growth (3.5%). "When a government is not able to provide health care to meet the needs of a growing population, it is a cut," says Sandra Azocar, executive director of Friends of Medicare. "As one goes down line by line through the budget, what we're seeing is a decrease in most areas of the health care budget."
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
October 24, 2019 -
Government-appointed “Blue Ribbon Panel” sets the stage for 4 years of unwarranted austerity budgets
Although health care took a back seat to “jobs, pipelines, economy” during the recent election, it was expected and reasonable to assume that health care should now become a much spoken about subject area.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
September 03, 2019
