The president of the Alberta Medical Association says a recent survey of family doctors suggests primary care in the province is in critical condition. (Photo: Pattison Media Staff)

By The Canadian Press

Primary care in ‘critical condition,’ Alberta doctors group head says

Jan 23, 2024 | 10:54 AM

The president of the Alberta Medical Association says a recent survey of family doctors suggests primary care in the province is in critical condition.

Dr. Paul Parks has shared the results of the online survey, taken between Jan. 16 and 19, on the viability of family physician and rural generalist clinics in Alberta.

The survey, which was conducted by ThinkHQ, suggests 91 per cent of the 1,375 doctors who responded are concerned about the continued financial viability of their practices.

Six in 10 family doctors surveyed said the financial state of their medical practices is poor, while fewer than one in 10 said their practices are performing well financially.

Parks says it’s time for the provincial government to take action or it will be too late.

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The polling industry’s professional body, the Canadian Research Insights Council, says online surveys cannot be assigned a margin of error because they do not randomly sample the population.

David Shepherd, Alberta NDP Health Critic for Primary and Rural Care, made the following statement, in part, in response to the AMA’s media briefing:

“The new data shared this morning by Dr. Paul Parks was absolutely devastating to hear.

“Dr. Parks was clear – physicians have not received one cent of the funding they desperately need to keep their doors open and continuing to provide care. Immediate support for family physicians is essential to help stabilize our struggling health-care system but the UCP Government continues to sit on its hands.

“Sixty-one per cent of Alberta family physicians are considering leaving our health-care system at a time when 800,000 Albertans don’t even have a family doctor.

“The data released today also shows that 91 per cent of family doctors do not think their businesses will make it. And 60 per cent of physicians are considering serious changes in practice that will not encompass complete family medicine.

“The UCP Government must act immediately to get stabilization funding into the hands of physicians. That should be their No. 1 priority right now, not in three or six months when more physicians have already left their practice.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 23, 2024.

(With files from rdnewsNOW)