Alberta’s NDP Opposition aims to guarantee publicl

May 16, 2011

“Albertans deserve and expect quality public healthcare,” says NDP Opposition leader Brian Mason. “In the decades since the NDP first created Medicare in Saskatchewan, it’s become the standard here in Alberta and across the country. It’s part of our identity as a caring society. Everyone talks about saving it, but we’re taking action.”

 The Alberta PC government has a very different agenda. A leaked document from the PC caucus shows they have plans to open the door to more private care after the next election.

“Bill 208 assures a strong publicly funded, publicly delivered system. It provides the best value and gives the best results,” Mason says.

 Bill 208 is being promoted and shared through Facebook, Twitter, a dedicated web page, an upcoming live chat session and a petition for support. All this and the bill itself can be found at www.ndpopposition.ab.ca/guaranteeingpubliccare.

Backgrounder

Alberta’s NDP Bill 208: Guaranteeing Public Healthcare for Our Future

 A commitment to:

• cost-effective health care;
• government-wide attention to the social determinants of health;
• principles & program criteria of Canada Health Act (public administration, comprehensiveness, universality, accessibility, portability).

 Amends current legislation to:

• Prohibit extra billing;
• Prohibit preferred access for membership fees or other charges;
• Ensure necessary access to long-term health care and home care;
• Ensure regional access, with defined maximum distances for care;
• Expand insured services through a plan by the end of 2012 to ensure access to prescription drugs is not impeded by cost, and dental services for those under 18 years of age and those over 64 years of age (except cosmetic) are insured;
• Require all insured surgical services are delivered in public or charitable/non-profit facilities by 2015;
• Establish a Health Care Planning Council to ensure clear time-lines and appropriate long-term planning and coordination for infrastructure, capital spending, and human resources; with annual reports tabled in the Legislature;
• Make the Minister of Health accountable to the Legislature for health expenditures and operation of the public health system-- including properly-detailed budget estimates included in the government's budget and approved by the Legislative Assembly, rather than the current generalities of Alberta Health Services, and regular public consultations by the Minister, using elected regional health advisory bodies