But overall, patients are left waiting for care, growing sicker and may miss timely treatment that could save lives and, in the long run, save money for the system. Every dollar in the system must count and must be expended wisely.
The Government of Alberta has a responsibility to appropriately expend taxpayer resources so that all eligible Albertans receive the care they need in a timely manner. All parties involved in the health care system must prioritize the responsible stewardship of finite system funds and resources. Government must ensure that the health budget is used to improve access to services, patient outcomes, healthy work environments and a well-paid, valued health workforce. This means adhering to best practices for procurement that give full effect to competitiveness, transparency and value for money. The allegations that have been made are serious and the AMA hopes that the most-appropriate parties will be involved in a thorough and independent investigation. The process and outcomes should be shared with the public.
The Canadian Medical Association and AMA have advocated for continued data and analysis regarding ways to optimize health system resources and performance. We must balance public/private, ensuring that need, not ability to pay, is the guiding principle. This includes the use of chartered surgical facilities to improve access to care, while ensuring our tax-payer funded facilities and resources are optimized for the benefit of Albertans.
The AMA will continue working with Alberta Health to identify opportunities for resource stewardship, promoting accountability across Alberta’s health system.