governance
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Backroom deals, political influence are dictating Alberta's health care
Today’s CBC story highlights the lengths that this government will go to in order to push their privatization agenda on Albertans. A new private orthopedic surgical facility—the largest ever in Alberta—has been proposed on the site of Ericksen Nissan, next to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, and has already gained the Minister of Health’s “tentative political support.”
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
August 10, 2020 -
Bill 30: Paving the way for privatization
On July 30, 2020, Friends of Medicare hosted an online discussion about the recently passed Bill 30 and it's impacts on both patients and health care workers. FOM's executive director Sandra Azocar, along with panelists Dr. Jillian Ratti and Dr. Lorian Hardcastle, sat down to explore the contents of Bill 30, discuss the ways that it opens the door to the privatization of our public health care, and answer questions from concerned Albertans.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
July 31, 2020 -
Friends of Medicare’s initial statement on Bill 30
Friends of Medicare’s initial statement on Bill 30
July 6, 2020
The announcement of Bill 30: Health Statutes Amendment Act, made by Health Minister Tyler Shandro today, highlights this government’s demonstrated lack of commitment to Albertans’ public health care. If passed, the omnibus bill would make sweeping changes to Albertans’ health care, including repealing or changing 9 pieces of existing health legislation.
“Bill 30 represents yet another step in the systemic process of privatization that this government has been committed to since prior to the election,” says Sandra Azocar, Executive Director of Friends of Medicare. “It signals that this government is unable or unwilling to learn the necessary lessons from a pandemic that has made abundantly clear the importance of a responsive public health care system.”
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
July 06, 2020 -
AHS review implementation must put Albertans and public health care at the forefront
EDMONTON — This week marks the 100 days which the Alberta Health Services (AHS) implementation team was given to report back on a detailed plan for which measures recommended in the Ernst & Young (EY) review would be implemented. The COVID-19 response has since put that on hold, but in the meantime, the pandemic has shone a light on the capacity and responsiveness of our public health care system, and has given Albertans pause when it comes to the wrongheaded direction that was recommended in this review.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
May 14, 2020 -
Responsible budgetary decisions needed amidst health & economic crisis
EDMONTON — As the Alberta Legislature resumes its business today, and the government sets out to push through it’s 2020 budget, Friends of Medicare have a message for Premier Kenney and Health Minister Shandro: don’t mess with our health care!
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
March 16, 2020 -
More vulnerable Albertans left behind by SCS review
More vulnerable Albertans left behind by SCS review
Albertans have once again been presented with the findings of a government-appointed review committee, and as in the case of previous reports, it reflects a predetermined outcome consistent with the ideological bent of this government. Unsurprisingly, today’s presentation of the findings of the supervised consumption services (SCS) review committee provided exactly the ideological justification that this government needs to move forward on their dangerous plan to limit or eradicate harm reduction services in this province.“This panel was only tasked with looking at one side of the story, the socioeconomic impact, and not on the human benefit of having this health care service available to the individuals who need it,” said Sandra Azocar, Executive Director of Friends of Medicare.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
March 05, 2020 -
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 -
People’s Bus takes health care and senior’s care concerns to minister’s riding
A bus carrying dozens of Albertans concerned about the government’s actions regarding health care and senior’s care made a stop near Red Deer on Wednesday.
The People’s Bus, chartered by Friends of Medicare and Public Interest Alberta, was travelling from Edmonton to Calgary and made a stop at a business along Gasoline Alley with the end goal of canvassing the constituency of the Minister of Health, Tyler Shandro.
The groups say they are concerned about deep cuts and privatization the provincial government is imposing on Alberta’s health care and seniors’ care systems.
