Dear Members,
Amid ongoing health system chaos, the need for reform grounded in evidence and physician expertise has never been clearer. Each day brings new policy decisions with wide-reaching consequences for patients and providers alike.
This week, two major flashpoints have captured attention across social and traditional media: Alberta’s COVID vaccine policy and proposed changes to the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program.
COVID
The Alberta government’s decision to offer free COVID vaccines to health care workers is a welcome step and we thank allied health professions, as well as physician and scientific colleagues for their efforts. Major barriers still remain. Our province’s immunization strategy still diverges from national recommendations and there are major concerns around pre-ordering, eliminating pharmacies from distribution and potential charges for most Albertans including those prioritized by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI). Immunization is a cornerstone of public health and access should not be limited by cost or logistics.
AISH
Meanwhile, the planned transition from AISH to the Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP) in July 2026 has raised alarm among physicians and disability advocates. While government claims ADAP will allow recipients to retain more employment income, critics warn it will reduce monthly support and impose stricter eligibility rules. Automatic transfers, mandatory reassessments and a non-appealable review process compound the concern. Those who don’t qualify under the new criteria will receive $200 less per month starting in 2027 — coinciding with Alberta’s decision to claw back the federal Canada Disability Benefit, a move no other province has made.
The linkage
What links both policies is troubling and familiar: decisions made without sufficient consultation with patients, physicians or subject-matter experts and apparently based on assumptions of desired outcomes. In both cases, the lack of evidence-based planning has led to confusion, inequity and unintended consequences that directly affect vulnerable populations. Physicians are left managing the fallout — whether it’s navigating vaccine access or spending countless hours of valuable patient care time completing forms just to ensure disabled patients can maintain basic income.
We need informed reform. We urge government to engage with clinical experts and affected communities before implementing policy that impacts the health and dignity of our patients. We will continue to advocate to this end. Thank you for all the messages of support in recent weeks.
If you have a story about how these changes are affecting any of your patients, text our Report My Story line at 587-401-9591. Staff will verify and follow up.
Sincerely,
Shelley Duggan, MD, FRCPC
President, Alberta Medical Association