Alberta Premier confirms plan to allow physicians to work in both public and private health care systems
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Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has confirmed her government’s intention to give physicians the flexibility to work together in both public and private health-care systems.
In a video posted on social media, Smith explained how the “dual practice surgery model” would work, and said it would help reduce wait times by increasing the number of surgeries that can be performed.
Smith says there are more than 80,000 Albertans on the waiting list for elective surgeries like hip or knee replacements.
Smith says the changes will still require surgeons and assistant surgical professionals to perform a certain number of publicly funded surgeries annually.
But if they want, they can also perform additional elective surgeries privately, on their weekend or holiday hours, Smith said.
“This means that everyone on the public waiting list moves to the front of the line so they can get their publicly insured surgeries sooner too,” Smith said in the video.
She says the change could also help retain Alberta doctors and bring back those who may have left the province for more lucrative opportunities elsewhere.
In his post, Smith says the government is sticking to its promise that no Albertans will need to pay out-of-pocket to see their family doctor or receive needed treatment.
She also points to other countries including Sweden, Germany and Australia that operate under a dual model system.
The changes were first reported by the Globe and Mail.
In the legislature Tuesday, the Alberta government and opposition debated the possibility of a hybrid health-care model, which could allow people to see doctors through the public system or by paying out of pocket in a private system. Travis McEwan takes a look at the debate and how the model could affect health care issues like waiting times.
The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) criticized the proposal in a statement, saying that patients “will have to wait longer, with many paying twice for health care, once through taxes and the second time with their credit cards.”
The CMA is calling on the Alberta government to reconsider the idea.
In a statement Tuesday, the Alberta Medical Association responded to speculation over the new health care model. It says any reform must be evidence-based and include meaningful engagement with physicians, patients and stakeholders.
It also said that it is essential that any changes do not have a negative impact on the public health care system.
A spokesperson for federal Health Minister Marjorie Mitchell says the minister has been in contact with officials in Alberta about the plan.
“Health Canada officials are engaging with Alberta officials to better understand the various components and implications of these proposed changes,” Guillaume Bertrand said in a statement.
“Our new government will always protect the Canada Health Act and Canada’s universal health care system,” Bertrand said.
orthopedic surgeon reacts
Dr. Keith Wolstenholme is an orthopedic surgeon based in Red Deer. He says the idea isn’t one he’s completely opposed to, but “the devil will be in the details,” he told CBC News.
In the video, Smith gives the example that a surgeon may be limited to performing 1,000 surgeries annually due to health system funding constraints.
But Wolstenholme doesn’t think many orthopedic surgeons are coming close to that number.
“I work more than I want to work and I’m not even hitting the 1,000 mark,” he said.
Additionally, he says many health care workers are overworked and suffering from burnout.
“There may be a lot of health care workers who are begging for opportunities to do more work, but it doesn’t feel like that’s necessary right now,” Wolstenholme said.
more to come.
