Alberta unveils prescription for health care

The Alberta government plans to overhaul the way regional health boards and authorities operate, as part of changes unveiled Wednesday aimed at making the provincial health-care system more accessible and accountable.

Health Minister Ron Liepert, who introduced the changes in the morning at the Alberta legislature, didn't give any details about how the boards and authorities would be changed and how that could improve the system.

Commitments to reduce wait times and rein in the cost of health care were a key part of the government's speech from the throne, delivered Tuesday.

But Liepert stressed the government has no plans to start cutting health-care spending.

"What we are proposing here today is not about money. It's about accessibility, "Liepert said.

"If at the end of the day the system costs us less, that will be a benefit. But that is not the driving factor of what we are attempting to do today."

Liepert said he would announce details on changes to the health authorities by mid-June, with other plans being rolled out over the next nine months.

The changes announced Wednesday also include measures to:

• Address workforce issues in nursing homes.
• Expand educational facilities to train more doctors, nurses, laboratory workers and therapists.
• Expand addiction and mental health services.
• Improve monitoring of infection control practices.

There were few specifics in the proposals unveiled Wednesday, but the minister did say he is looking at an expanded role for other health professionals who can work with doctors to provide care for patients.

"We talk in here about expanding the scope for pharmacists. We talk in here about physician assistants. There's a whole bunch of other ways of meeting this need.… Let's just not jump to the conclusion that we have to run out there and hire 1,500 new doctors. There are other ways of addressing this problem."

Changes to be based on past studies

The minister said his proposed changes will be based on two reports commissioned by the government since 2001.

One of those reports, the Mazankowski report, recommended reviewing which medical procedures should be covered by the public system, and suggested that those that might be discontinued could be picked up by insurance companies and individuals.

The other report was the basis of former premier Ralph Klein's "Third Way" package of health reforms. It suggested people who could afford to pay could opt for enhanced treatment, such as higher quality hip replacements.

Premier Ed Stelmach has distanced his government from Klein's proposals, which were eventually dropped under public pressure.

"The Third Way is DOA," said Stelmach said after his election victory in March.

Opposition questions plan

Critics were quick to attack Liepert's plan for its lack of specifics.

"I'm a little bit puzzled as to why we had this news conference because there wasn't a whole lot to be announced, it seems to me," said Liberal health critic Dave Taylor.

NDP Leader Brian Mason questioned how the government can call it an "action plan" when it has so few details.

"What we need is an action plan that has clear goals to accomplish those things and this doesn't."