Leaked Documents Reveal Alberta’s Plan to Dismantle AHS, May Sell Off Care Homes

A leaked document released by opposition NDP, has shown that Alberta is planning to dismantle the provincial health care provider, and may sell off its publicly owned continuing-care facilities.

According to the Canadian Press, NDP Leader Rachel Notley says the proposal to break up Alberta Health Services (AHS) would give complete political control over all health decisions to Premier Danielle Smith’s cabinet.

Notley says the decision would bring chaos to the system and open the door to more privately. On Tuesday, Notley reportedly shared copies of a computer slide deck, showing details of the government’s promised revamp of the health system. Notley said the documents were sent to the NDP anonymously.

During question period. Notley asked Smith “Is the premier actually committed to what’s outlined in these leaked documents?”

“One hundred per cent committed”, answered Premier Smith. “We embarked on a process over the last year to try to work within the existing framework to get performance improvement, and we succeeded to a measure. But we need to do so much more if we’re going to be able to make greater progress.”

The Canadian Press reports that the leaked documents outline a sweeping reorganization of AHS, affecting an estimated 250,000 workers. Report says AHS would become one of four agencies that oversee health care tied not to geographic regions, as is currently the case, but to service delivery.

The document also stated that AHS would become the Acute Care Organization, responsible for running hospitals and, for the time being, lab and ambulance services. It would also be a primary care organization, with a mandate to find a family doctor for every Albertan.

The government plans to have a “continuing care organization to oversee and run those facilities”, says the report. It further states that the government would look to the potential of selling off AHS continuing care subsidiaries CapitalCare Group and Carewest.

The mental health and addiction organization, which is the fourth agency would work directly with the Mental Health and Addiction Ministry to further the larger goal of a recovery-oriented system. The report says all four agencies would account to an integration council headed by LaGrange.

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