The Alberta government promotes its health care system as being universal. In principle, everyone — the young, old, rich, poor — are to have equal access to medical treatment.
But recent revelations by Alberta’s former health boss tosses that idealistic notion out the window.
The reality, it seems, is that a two-door system exists. One for the average taxpayer; another for Alberta’s politically connected.
In May, former Alberta Health Services CEO Stephen Duckett told medical professionals in Toronto that, “some of my predecessor CEOs had designated ‘go-to guys’ for discreet waiting list adjustments on request from MLAs.”
As well, a 2009 memo sent to top AHS executives has surfaced, in which Duckett had questioned the practise of “preferential or expedited care.”
In short, Tory friends could call up a fixer, jump the queue and receive priority medical treatment. AHS officials and the health minister dismissed Duckett’s accusation as “vague.”
Opposition parties, health care advocates and one Tory leadership hopeful, former justice minister Alison Redford, are now calling for an inquiry.
Comments: 2
Ron wrote:
on Jun 11th, 2011 at 1:45am Report Abuse
freethinking wrote:
on Jun 30th, 2011 at 12:54pm Report Abuse
Post comment: (Login or Register)