Restructured provincial healthcare system not capable of managing spikes in demand, Alberta doctors say

The Alberta Medical Association (AMA) says the restructuring of the province’s healthcare system and the subsequent shift in government responsibility has exacerbated overcrowding in emergency rooms.

“We are calling on the government to reestablish the structures and authority necessary to manage this crisis,” said AMA president Brian Wirzba.

He is urging the government to restore system resilience by establishing clear, provincial accountability for operational integration and patient flow, capabilities he says have been “significantly diminished.”

Wirzba says a disaggregated system isn’t able to effectively manage volumes across regions or handle sustained spikes in demand.

He explains it’s clear the current system isn’t working.

“With wait times for urgent patients in our major cities increasing by 70 per cent since late 2022, we can no longer rely on “business as usual,”” he said in a statement Tuesday. “Physician leaders have been sounding the alarm about the chaos in our emergency departments and the resulting risks to patient care.”

Doctors and the Opposition NDP are raising the alarm on what they call a crisis in Alberta’s emergency rooms, citing data that reports increasing wait times in ERs and more patients leaving without being seen by a physician.

NDP health critic Sarah Hoffman says Premier Danielle Smith and her four health ministers need to take responsibility.

“The buck stops with them, and they should be showing some leadership, answering questions and putting resources into the front lines,” said Hoffman. “They keep putting out statements, but haven’t made themselves available. They need to show accountability.”

Despite the state of the system, Wirzba is commending the work of doctors across Alberta and offering his support.

“You have an ethical and professional duty to advocate for your patients,” he said. “When administrative channels for raising concerns fail, speaking out publicly is often the only tool remaining to protect those in your care.”

The province first announced in 2023 it would be undertaking a massive reorganization of Alberta Health Services.

The switch-up was fully completed by the end of 2025, as legislation passed during the fall sitting finalized the creation of separate healthcare entities to govern hospital care, continuing care, mental health and addictions, and primary care. These entities are under the purview of Primary and Preventative Health Services, Hospital and Surgical Health Services, Mental Health and Addiction, and Assisted Living and Social Services, each of which have their own government minister and CEO.

Acute Care Alberta CEO David Diamond issued a statement in response to the AMA’s claims, saying it is handling the overflowing ERs prompted by respiratory virus season.

“Albertans can be assured that the Government of Alberta, health agencies, and service providers are working together to actively support the acute care system to meet the daily pressures and high demand,” he said.

Diamond adds that Acute Care Alberta is coordinating a provincewide response bringing together all sectors of the healthcare system to create capacity and free up resources.

“It is working with service providers like AHS, Covenant Health to support site-level decisions such has [sic] accelerating discharges and transfers where appropriate, limiting non-essential inbound transfers, dedicating 336 beds specifically for respiratory virus season, and opening designated surge spaces to manage increased demand,” he said.

Diamond also went on to describe the efforts of Assisted Living Alberta, Recovery Alberta, and other provincial healthcare entities amid the current situation.

An update on Alberta’s respiratory virus season is scheduled for Tuesday.

The Ministry of Hospital and Surgical Health Services, along with Acute Care Alberta, Alberta Health Services, and Covenant Health, will provide a public update on acute care capacity on Thursday.

–With files from Lisa Johnson, The Canadian Press