Overview
- Alberta this week opened applications for surgeons to join a dual-practice program that would let them charge patients for elective procedures outside the public plan, with the province planning a fall rollout.
- More than 100 health-care advocates protested at the premiers' Council of the Federation meeting in Charlottetown and urged Prime Minister Mark Carney to increase federal health transfers and attach conditions to protect public care.
- The Alberta government says the change will boost capacity and cut surgical waits and that rules will limit how physicians split time, require minimum public-surgery hours, mandate performance reviews and require system reporting.
- Advocates warn the plan could create a two-tier system and potentially clash with the Canada Health Act, a claim Alberta officials dispute by noting similar private options operate in other provinces.
- Premiers told Carney they want renewed long-term federal funding before current agreements expire in roughly 18 months, with smaller jurisdictions like Nunavut stressing unique cost pressures such as patient travel expenses.