(Dreamstime)

By The Canadian Press

"On The Verge Of Collapse"

Alberta doctors association says delayed pay deal will hurt health-care system

Sep 23, 2024 | 12:33 PM

An Alberta doctors’ group says even though a new pay deal with the province is ready to be implemented, the government isn’t putting its money where its mouth is.

Dr. Shelley Duggan, the Alberta Medical Association’s new president, says doctors are worried the province’s health-care system is on the verge of collapse, and the pay deal is still waiting on approval from the province’s Treasury Board.

Former association president Dr. Paul Parks says Premier Danielle Smith promised the deal by September and the delay is hurting the struggling health-care system.

Parks says the government’s work to break up the provincial health authority is sparking chaos and that creating multiple administrative layers could stifle co-ordination.

Health Minister Adriana LaGrange recently said the government is committed to getting a fair and sustainable compensation model for primary care physicians.

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Late last year, Smith announced $200 million in federal funding over two years to help physicians keep their practices open, with the province rolling out another $57 million in February.

Sarah Hoffman, Alberta NDP Shadow Minister for Health, issued the following statement Monday in response: 

“Over 800,000 Albertans don’t have a family doctor today. I met with several doctors last Friday at the Alberta Medical Association Representatives Forum. They told me that doctors across the province are on the verge of closing more local practices because the UCP government is failing to take action and sign a new agreement.    

“When Albertans don’t have family doctors, they end up in emergency rooms with medical conditions that could have been prevented or treated early: this is bad for patients and more expensive care.   

“It doesn’t need to be this way. Instead of causing more chaos, the government should prioritize patients and health-care workers. They should sit down at the table and sign an agreement to create a stable and reliable health-care system that we can all be proud of. Other provinces have shown leadership. Albertans deserve nothing less.” 

(The Canadian Press)

With files from rdnewsNOW