Privatization
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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 -
Friends of Medicare stands with the 53 workers from Vegreville Century Park as they fight to save their jobs.
“Alberta open for business” resonates loudly in Alberta’s broken seniors’ care system –
At noon on October 7th, Friends of Medicare will be standing side by side with the 53 workers from Vegreville Century Park, as they fight to save their jobs.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
October 07, 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 -
Albertans will pay for the UCP's fiscally irresponsible political gimmick to quash public laboratory services
MEDIA RELEASE
APRIL 23, 2019
EDMONTON
Albertans will pay for the UCP's fiscally irresponsible political gimmick to quash public laboratory services
Through media reports, Friends of Medicare learned that construction Alberta Health Services’ $590 million lab at the University of Alberta’s south campus has been put on hold until the new government has an opportunity to “review the project.”Given that Premier-designate Jason Kenney has already indicated that he would reverse the building of a public laboratory, we know that 'review' is simply rhetoric for the ideologically driven privatization of an integral part of our health care system. "Even before the new government is sworn in, we see the first glimpse of what is to come," says Sandra Azocar, Executive Director of Friends of Medicare.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
April 23, 2019 -
UCP health policy announcement insupportable
Today’s health policy announcement from Jason Kenney, leader of the United Conservative Party, made clear that he and his party are not interested in finding public solutions to improve and expand our public health care system. Kenney presented Albertans with the UCP’s “Surgical Wait Time Reduction Plan,” and confirmed that if elected, his party would introduce policy to mirror the Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative. He touted their achievements and successes; however, he did not disclose how much money they would need to invest in contracting out and privatizing public surgeries, nor where this money would be coming from.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
March 28, 2019 -
Advocacy groups: Good direction for long term care, but beds must be public
Today, Premier Rachel Notley announced that if re-elected, the Alberta New Democratic Party is committed to building an additional 2,000 long term care (LTC) beds. The promised $170 million investment is welcome news to a system that is currently facing serious shortages.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
March 22, 2019 -
Good direction for long term care, but beds must be public
MEDIA RELEASE
MARCH 21, 2019
EDMONTON
Advocacy groups: Good direction for long term care, but beds must be public
Today, Premier Rachel Notley announced that if re-elected, the Alberta New Democratic Party is committed to building an additional 2,000 long term care (LTC) beds. The promised $170 million investment is welcome news to a system that is currently facing serious shortages.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
March 21, 2019 -
The Protection of Health Care Act: A step in the right direction to protect and expand public health
The Protection of Health Care Act: A step in the right direction to protect and expand public health
With the introduction of Bill 1, the Protection of Health Care Act, Friends of Medicare is optimistic that for the first time in this province we will see the political will to protect our public health care and an end to shirking the rule of law in Canada and Alberta.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
March 18, 2019 -
Been there, done that part 2: Albertans want public solutions that will improve our health care
March 13, 2019
EDMONTON
Been there, done that part 2: Albertans want public solutions that will improve our health care
The plans announced today by UCP leader, Jason Kenney, proposing to privatize laundry services in hospitals, is the second announcement he has made touting the supposed efficiency of the private sector in our public health care. His announcement takes us back to the mid-1990s when, under the Conservative government of Ralph Klein in Alberta, laundry services in Calgary were privatized. As a result, laundry workers went on a wildcat strike and garnered national headlines, but the contract was eventually given to K-Bro Linen.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
March 13, 2019 -
Been there, done that: Albertans want strong public health care not privatization
Privatization Ideologues have been set on marketizing our health care system, and yesterday's announcement by the leader of the UCP, Jason Kenney, that he intends to privatize laboratory services in Alberta, is another reminder that this unbridled disdain for our public services is nothing more than a celebration of self-interest and the interests of those who seek to profit from the poor health of others.
Written by Fom Friends of Medicare
March 12, 2019
