Dual health-care system will cripple staffing levels in Alberta

EDMONTON—Premier Smith’s plan for a dual public-private health system is doomed to fail for one simple reason: There are not enough workers, says the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE).

“There’s a shortage of health-care workers in Alberta, across Canda and around the world,” says Sandra Azocar, president of AUPE, which represents more than 60,000 health-care workers. 

“Hospitals and health-care facilities are constantly running without appropriate numbers of staff. Many of them have endured temporary closures because there aren't enough workers to stay open,” she says.

The dual health-care system the provincial government proposes in the Health Statutes Amendment Act would allow physicians to practice in both private and public systems and to charge extra for private care.

“Albertans suffering while waiting for treatment will be forced to spend money they can’t afford to get the treatment they need. For those without that option, wait times will just get longer,” says Azocar.

“There is a finite number of physicians and other health-care workers. They will be pulled from the public system and into the private lane, leaving ordinary Albertans behind.”

Thanks to Smith’s ideological agenda, Albertans will face even longer wait times to get the treatment they need.

“The immense pressure already felt by front-line workers will increase as the staff shortages get worse. They’ll also be the people dealing face-to-face with angry Albertans in unnecessary pain who have waited years to get treatment,” says Azocar. 

As treatments are delayed, health conditions will deteriorate. It will become more expensive to treat patients, leading to more Albertans turning up at already overcrowded Emergency Rooms.

“The premier’s obsession with corporate profit will be paid in pain by the people,” says Azocar.

She adds that the dual system is likely to face court challenges as a violation of the Canada Health Act.

“Albertans need to know if the premier will invoke the notwithstanding clause again to impose her vision of a U.S.-style system where people buy their way to the front of the line.”

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