Leaked cabinet briefing documents from the Opposition NDP reveal that Alberta is considering the dismantling of its provincewide health provider and may sell off its publicly owned continuing-care facilities.
Rachel Notley, the leader of the NDP, expressed concerns that breaking up Alberta Health Services would concentrate political control over health decisions within Premier Danielle Smith’s cabinet. She also highlighted the potential for increased chaos in the healthcare system and the likelihood of expanded private healthcare services.
Notley shared photocopies of a computer slide deck detailing the government’s proposed healthcare system overhaul with reporters. She claimed that these documents were sent to the NDP anonymously.
Health Minister Adriana LaGrange announced that the government would officially unveil its health reorganization plan on Wednesday.
Premier Smith has long advocated for significant reforms to Alberta Health Services, which was established 15 years ago to oversee health policy and the delivery of healthcare services across the province, including hospitals, care homes, mental health and addiction services, family physicians, and procurement.
Smith criticized AHS for its centralized decision-making and perceived lack of responsiveness during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the removal of the AHS board and its replacement with a single administrator last year.
The leaked documents detail a comprehensive restructuring of AHS that would impact an estimated 250,000 workers.
Under the proposed restructuring, AHS would transform into one of four agencies responsible for healthcare services, departing from the current regional-based model and focusing on service delivery.
AHS would evolve into the Acute Care Organization, taking charge of hospital management and, temporarily, laboratory and ambulance services.
Alongside this, a primary care organization would be established with the mission of ensuring every Albertan has access to a family doctor.
A continuing care organization would oversee and operate continuing care facilities, with the government exploring the potential sale of AHS continuing care subsidiaries such as CapitalCare Group and Carewest during the reorganization.
The fourth agency, a mental health and addiction organization, would collaborate closely with the Mental Health and Addiction Ministry to advance the overarching objective of building a recovery-oriented healthcare system.