EDMONTON—Premier Danielle Smith’s plans to transfer hospital ownership from Alberta Health Services (AHS) to other organizations would jeopardize vital services, says the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE).
Smith’s plans for introducing “competition” to health care leaves the door open for more private, for-profit services in Alberta, something Curtis Jackson, AUPE vice-president and chair of the union’s Anti-privatization Committee, says would jeopardize the entire health care system.
“For-profit health care services deliver worse care by design,” says Jackson. “Private providers are primarily motivated to make money. They cut corners to maximize profit at the expense of the quality care patients deserve.
“Closures and wait times are plaguing Alberta’s hospitals, and transferring ownership of services will not fix the issue. The problems with our health care system are a direct result of the government’s failure to recruit and retain appropriate levels of staff.”
Transferring hospital operations outside of AHS could also jeopardize access to services not provided by other organizations, such as Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID), in vitro fertilization (IVF), abortion, and gender-affirming care.
Given Smith’s intentions and track record thus far, Jackson says Albertans must resist the premier’s ideological plan to dismantle public health care in order to serve the rich and powerful.
“Privatizing health care is just another way for the premier’s friends and corporate sponsors to rake in taxpayer’s dollars under the guise of ‘finding efficiencies’,” he says. “As a result, Albertans could see catastrophic failures in our health care system. We must stand up for the public services all Albertans deserve and depend on.”
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AUPE Vice-President Curtis Jackson is available for interviews.
Please contact Alexander Delorme, Communications Officer: a.delorme@aupe.org or 780- 904-0654