There are growing concerns the Alberta government's plans for health-care spending, detailed in the latest provincial budget, will do little to address front-line pressures or improve access to care.

Total health spending is expected to hit $24 billion this year, with 3.5 per cent increases planned in each of the following two years, climbing to $25.7 billion by 2027-28.

"We are really struggling in our acute care hospitals," said Dr. Paul Parks, an emergency room physician in Medicine Hat and past president of the Alberta Medical Association.

"We just did not see anything in that budget that's going to immediately tackle and deal with how difficult it is to deliver safe and timely care in our hospitals."

Jennifer Zwicker, the director of health and social policy at the University of Calgary's School of Public Policy, said the budget reflects the government's previously stated priorities and restructuring push.

However, she said details about how progress can be measured were limited.

"An increase of this magnitude probably just doesn't even keep up with population growth and inflation considerations," she said.

Health Minister Adriana LaGrange acknowledged on Monday the budget was tabled during a time of uncertainty.

"It is a tough budget all around," she said at a news conference in Red Deer.

According to LaGrange, the province budgeted a 5.3 per cent increase overall in health-care spending.

"It really does look at making sure that we are resourcing our health-care system to meet the demands that we have."

Spending on health administration is rising. The province estimates it will hit $544 million this year with increases to $573 million next year and $604 million in 2027-28.

That comes as no surprise, according to Parks, given the government's health system overhaul and creation of four new agencies to oversee acute care, primary care, mental health and addictions as well as continuing care.

Acute Care Alberta and Primary Care Alberta fall under the health portfolio.

"We're seeing more and more layers of bureaucracy and more and more layers of administration. And just to put it very simply, those numbers have to go up," Parks said.

"And there's worry that they're even underestimated in the budget."

According to the health minister's office, the government committed $85 million for the health system restructuring over the last two years.

"As Alberta's government has made significant progress in this work, any future costs will be incurred as part of regular operational expenses," a statement said.

Lorian Hardcastle said the cost of restructuring is not clear in this budget and she expects spending on administration will increase in the long run with the creation of new agencies.

"And not just costs going up, but costs going up without corresponding value to the public in terms of improved access, improved quality of care, better integration of services, et cetera," said Hardcastle, an associate professor in the faculty of law and the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary.

According to LaGrange administration has not been added through the restructuring process.

"Were going to keep looking at how we can make things much more efficient and redirect resources to the front lines,"she said.

Other health advocacy groups and unions — including the Health Sciences Association of Alberta and the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, which are in contract negotiations — have also raised concerns about the provincial budget.

"Where's the workforce planning?" asked Chris Gallaway, executive director of Friends of Medicare, after the budget release last week.

"We should be laser focused on retention, on recruitment, on a plan for training to meet a growing population need.… That means we need beds and we need health-care workers."

In a statement on Monday, the Alberta Medical Association (AMA) said it welcomes funding increases for primary care, mental health, addictions and continuing care.

But, according to the AMA's calculations, physician compensation and development is $600 million less than what's needed to keep up with patient care demand.

"What's going to give? What's their plan? How are they going to address that? And it's not clear to us right now," said Parks.

The Alberta government said it plans to spend approximately $7 billion on physician compensation and development this year.

"That is the highest it's ever been in Alberta's history," said LaGrange, whose office noted that the budget has increased by about a billion dollars since 2022-23.

"We will continue to work with the AMA to make sure that we are addressing the issues, but we also need to make sure that we are sustainable in the province."

Spending on physician compensation will grow to $8.1 billion by 2027-28.

"This includes $15 million for recruitment and retention of physicians who practice full-time in underserved areas, a $12-million increase for the existing Rural Remote Northern Program, and $12 million annually for physician support programs," the government's fiscal plan says. It also notes the new primary care physician compensation model is expected to help with recruitment and improve access for patients.

The AMA also said the budget is "silent" on a proposal it submitted in the fall of 2023 to stabilize acute care.

The group estimated $308 million is needed to recruit and retain acute care physicians and address hospital strain.

Meanwhile the health minister's office continues to defend the budget, calling its plans for health spending a "record investment."

" Alberta's government is spending $60.5 million per day to support our growing workforce and ensure every Albertan has access to high quality, reliable services close to home."