NDP, healthcare groups say UCP government trying to destroy public health care

The opposition NDP says the Alberta UCP government is destroying public health care as they team up with Friends of Medicare and Alberta unions covering healthcare workers to warn Albertans.

In a news conference on Thursday, the groups raised the alarm about the recently introduced Bill 55, the Health Statutes Amendment Act, saying it lets the health minister turn hospitals over to private interests and private operators to charge patients for services.

The NDP is claiming the proof is right in the legislation.

“The bill itself has sections in there about people signing intake forms where they take responsibility for paying the bill,” she says. “While I absolutely agree every Albertan wants to be able to shop and get the care when and where they need it, they don’t want to have to pull out there credit card to get that care.”

Mike Parker with the Health Sciences Association says it’s very clear that the legislation opens the door to full privatization of hospital infrastructure

“Our members recognize that it’s the government’s next attempt to sell off parts of this healthcare system, so that they can believe to be making profits from the work,” says Parker.

He adds the government has previously tried this with the failed privatization of lab services through DynaLife, claiming it cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The province has said before it would not privatize health care and is instead reorganizing it to ensure it operates more smoothly and is able to offer care to more Albertans.

Bill 55, if passed, will continue the work to split Alberta Health Services (AHS) into four health pillars. Front-line public health services like immunization will fall under Primary Care Alberta, while those dealing with health inspections and policies will be taken care of by the Health Ministry.

AHS will continue to work alongside Covenent Health as hospital providers under Acute Care Alberta. The four new health agencies that are now in place are Primary Care — dealing with family doctors. Acute Care — for hospitals. Assisted Living and Recovery Alberta managing mental health and addictions.

Hoffman has called it another example of LaGrange consolidating control in her office instead of focusing on improving health care, and it appears no unions were consulted in the process.

CityNews has reached out to the premier and health minister for a response.

With files from Logan Stein and The Canadian Press