AMA statement on Alberta Budget 2026

The Alberta Medical Association has completed an initial review of Budget 2026 and notes that the government has increased the Physician Compensation and Development budget to $7.7 billion in 2026–27. This represents a large increase compared with last year’s budget, which did not fully account for population growth, aging and inflation.
 
However, when compared to the government’s own estimate of what was actually spent in 2025–26, the increase is much more modest — approximately 1.6 per cent. Based on the information available, it is not clear how this funding fully addresses ongoing cost pressures, previously awarded arbitration decisions or other known commitments affecting physician services.
 
The AMA recognizes that health care funding is not a one‑time decision but an ongoing responsibility. Sustaining access to care requires funding that keeps pace, year over year, with population growth, increasing patient complexity and the real costs of delivering care.
 
We will continue to review the details of this budget and assess how the funding is allocated across ministries and programs. The AMA will provide clear, evidence‑based information to our members and to Albertans as we work to ensure health care funding supports stable care delivery today and into the future.