Blackfalds’ Apollo clinic gets municipal loan to stay open as doctor shortage lingers

A request was made by Dr. Kauchali for funding, in the form of a grant or loan. A variation of said request was approved at Blackfalds town council’s October 10 meeting.

Council unanimously approved a $15,000 one-time loan to come from the Economic Development, Physician Attraction and Retention ledger, but it was only after some discussion.

“What are they [the provincial government] doing, because this is unacceptable for a community of [over] 11,000 people,” said Councillor Laura Svab. “We need to write them another letter to say, ‘Hey, this is what’s going on,’ and, ‘Let’s start removing more of this red tape so they can get doctors into our community who’ll actually stay here.”

It was mentioned that the Town has requested to speak to the Health Minister about this, but has to date been unsuccessful.

In addition to the loan, council also agreed to attempt to reach the health minister again, and include MLA Jennifer Johnson and Dr. Kauchali in those potential talks. They’ll also be looking at other means, such as grants through the province or primary care network to supplement what Apollo needs.

“Unfortunately, and it’s no fault of Apollo, this is a challenge being experienced across the province. Most often it’s foreign-trained doctors trying to come to Canada and Alberta, and they have to spend a number of months working with a proctor writing exams. So sometimes there are these delays,” said Mayor Jamie Hoover.

“I think there are a lot of communities who’d be happy to throw way more than $15,000 towards Dr. Kauchali if he was willing to move his clinic there. As frustrating as it is, to me, it’s a small price to keep a doctor in our community even for a short time.”

Hoover also noted that Dr. Kauchali and his wife Rubina who helps run the clinic, have been engaged in trying to find other solutions, with Rubina sitting on a regional health attraction and retention committee.

“What guarantee do we have that they’ll be able to keep doors open?,” asked Councillor Rebecca Stendie, who made the motion that was approved.

Administration responded saying there isn’t necessarily a guarantee, adding there is optimism two or three doctors could join the ranks at Apollo sooner than later.

Councillor Edna Coulter also expressed concern that approving what was being requested could wind up just being a band-aid solution.

Apollo Clinic declined an interview with rdnewsNOW at this time because they are yet to receive specifics about the agreement from the Town.

In a statement to rdnewsNOW, Health Minister Adriana LaGrange says, “Every Albertan deserves to have access to a primary care provider, which can include a family doctor or nurse practitioner, when and where they need it. Alberta’s government recognizes that more Albertans need access to primary care providers, and we understand this is a challenge that is felt across Canada.”

She assures the province is working hard on this issue.

“This is why Alberta’s government has made it a priority to strengthen our primary care system by spending a historic $2 billion towards improving our primary healthcare system in Budget 2023,” LaGrange says. “Right now, work is currently underway through Alberta’s Health Care Action Plan to increase access to a regular health provider throughout the province. This was a goal established in my mandate from the Premier, and we will deliver on that commitment.”

Minister LaGrange is expected to outline government actions to provide Albertans with better access to family doctors and health professionals during a press conference in Calgary on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023.

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by Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Blackfalds’ Apollo clinic gets municipal loan to stay open as doctor shortage lingers

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