Decisions about our health system move quickly, and physicians must be part of the conversations that shape what comes next. Now more than ever, we encourage physician members across specialties to join an AMA committee. Applications close May 29.
Read the May 22 President’s Letter
Over the past several months, many of you have raised important questions about what expanded dual practice could mean for patients, physicians and the future of our publicly funded health care system — especially since Bill 11 (Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 (No. 2)) was introduced.
An update on self-referred private pay diagnostic imaging and screening laboratory services and to encourage members to attend an upcoming information session on youth proxy access through MyHealth Records.
Dr. Brian Wirzba provides updates on three important areas of work underway at the AMA.
Reminder to complete the current AMA Pulse Survey regarding Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) and the proposed Bill 18, the Last Resort Termination of Life Act.
Below you will find previous issues of The President's Letter. For older issues no longer on the website, contact us.
Voting closed today at 4 p.m. for the 2022-26 agreement package just negotiated with government. I am pleased to report that members ratified it with a “Yes” vote from 70.2% of responding physicians. (Voter turnout was 45.8%. While turnout was higher for the package that members rejected in 2021, today’s result is significantly higher than recent ratifications.)
You may recall that I have been engaging with the seven candidates for the leadership of the United Conservative Party in recent weeks. I have met now with five and meetings are booked for the remaining two.
Members tell the AMA that one of the most important things we do is help the public better understand the health care system from the front lines. As promised in my letter last week, advocacy will continue as members consider the potential agreement package and beyond the vote, regardless of the outcome. This advocacy work helps focus attention on critical health issues so we can work together to ensure Albertans receive the care they need, when and where they need it.
Today the Supreme Court of the United States struck down the landmark Roe vs. Wade ruling. While we have anticipated this possibility with dread, the actual overturning of this decades-old jurisprudence decision on abortion is much worse for women of our neighbouring nation.
We know many physicians are affected by the upcoming June 30 planned deadline for stipend contracts. Via a joint statement this morning, government and the Alberta Medical Association are announcing that, “no action will be taken on June 30, 2022, with respect to Alberta Health Services (AHS) stipends or AHS overhead.
I’m writing today to provide members with an update on the Income Equity Initiative (IEI). A comprehensive physician compensation framework remains a key priority for the AMA. We have kept our commitment to membership and have continued our work on income equity so that we can be ready to incorporate it into possible outcomes of an agreement, such as allocation of new monies.
Today I am sharing a new issue in the Care Deficit Assessment Series. Issue 5 Dermatology is an interesting example of the care deficit manifesting in specialized care with the potential to affect many patients. To quote the contributors: “As with most health issues, early diagnosis of dermatology-related issues is key to determining the best possible treatment.”
Pediatric mental health has emerged as one of the primary concerns of the current care deficit. As colleagues who care for children tell us, these patients are distressed. Adding to that toll are the families and friends of unwell children who are their support networks, themselves dragged into stress, anxiety and ill health by the burden of caregiving.
We have kept the Representative Forum up to date on details of negotiations with government for a new agreement. Your leaders have heard that the interests-based approach to negotiations has allowed us some progress.
The biggest Connect Care launch to date (Wave 4) is happening on May 28, at sites in both the Edmonton and Calgary zones (for a list of specific sites that will be impacted, please visit the Connect Care Implementation Timeline).