Budget 2017 Resists Pressure to Cut Needed Health Services

Major Work Needs to Begin on Expanding and Improving Universal Public Care

Friends of Medicare are pleased to see funding increases of 3.2% which will cover spending pressures in inflation and population growth. Friends of Medicare are also glad to see the government willing to resist wrong headed calls to cutback an already stretched system.

Kenney's Health Care Record Demands Answers

Friends of Medicare are calling on Jason Kenney and all future contenders in the PC Leadership race to be clear with Albertans on health care. 

Despite a long record in politics and on health care Kenney did not talk about health care or where he stands on private or public care in his lengthy campaign launch on July 6.

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".

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.

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:

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. 

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.