(Public Interest Alberta)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

May 14, 2022

Red Deer site of Rally for Public Health Care

May 13, 2022 | 3:45 PM

The state of Alberta’s health care system will be the focus of a series of public rallies taking place across the province on Saturday.

On May 14, a coalition or organization’s consisting of Public Interest Alberta, the Alberta Federation of Labour, Friends of Medicare, United Nurses of Alberta, Health Sciences Association of Alberta, and the Union of Provincial Employees, will host a Rally for Public Health Care in Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, and Red Deer.

Public Interest Alberta points to the recent announcement and subsequent pause in plans to terminate the Insulin Pump Benefits Program (IPBP) for those living with diabetes, as yet another cause for concern with the current government’s health care plans.

Read More: UCP reverses changes to insulin pump program, Innisfail resident relieved

Officials with Public Interest Alberta also say the health and economic challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic have laid bare the inadequacy of the country’s prescription drug coverage.

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Friends of Medicare, meantime, says the rallies are also a joint effort of Friends of Medicare, the Alberta Federation of Labour, United Nurses of Alberta, and others in protest of what they describe as ongoing attacks on Alberta’s public health care.

“Our public health care isn’t broken, it’s being intentionally dismantled by an ideological government intent on privatizing every sliver they can,” said Chris Gallaway, executive director at Friends of Medicare. “Health care decisions should be made prioritizing people, not profits. It should be about providing the care Albertans need, not using our public health care dollars to facilitate privatization and profit for corporations.”

The rally in Red Deer is scheduled to take place at 1:00 p.m. at Red Deer City Hall.