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.

June 11, 2013
EDMONTON

In December 2012, Albertans receiving home care services saw their services cut by 15 minutes.  Friends of Medicare has now learned that as a result of the changes being made in home care, a further 10 minutes of services will be taken off direct patient care time.

Friends of Medicare is concerned about a full-page advertisement placed in the Edmonton Journal on May 8, 2013. The ad appears in a form meant to look like a news column on page A7.

(Ottawa) – The Canadian Health Coalition issued an urgent alert to Canadians in light of today’s news that the Harper Government is terminating its funding of the Health Council of Canada. 

Friends of Medicare is joining health care professionals who today are standing in opposition to so-called 'patient-based funding.'  "As Canadians, we value our publicly-delivered and publicly-funded health care system, and we need to put the well-being of people and the health of our society at the forefront of our budgetary decisions," said 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.

In light of what has been revealed in the Preferential-Access Inquiry, Friends of Medicare is calling on the Alberta and Federal Government to take immediate action to ensure compliance with the Canada Health Act.

Friends of Medicare is in full support of the striking nurses of UNA Local 417 at Devonshire Care Centre in Edmonton. The nurses are employed by Park Place Seniors’ Living, the private, for-profit, corporation that runs the home. The home’s operations are funded by Alberta Health Services, but the nurses are paid well below the industry standard in wages and benefits.

OTTAWA - As the Alberta affiliate of the Canadian Health Coalition, Friends of Medicare is in the nation's capital this week to focus on inter-provincial and national issues concerning public health care.

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).