Alberta dual-practice doctors could begin offering private surgeries in fall

Alberta's government is set to introduce a dual practice model this fall, allowing some physicians to offer privately paid surgical procedures while continuing to work within the publicly funded healthcare system. Premier Danielle Smith's government is inviting surgeons to apply this summer to charge patients for elective procedures such as hip and knee replacements, aiming to address long surgical wait times.

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the status quo isn’t working as too many Albertans are sitting in the queue too long to get surgery.

Surgical Services Minister Adriana LaGrange stated that the current system is not working efficiently, with too many Albertans facing lengthy waits for surgery. She believes the new model will attract more doctors, increase surgical capacity, and shorten waitlists by providing patients with a paid option closer to home. The government insists that privately paid procedures will be limited to elective surgeries and will not include emergency care or life-threatening treatments, such as cancer care.

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the change will attract doctors, increase capacity and cut down waits by allowing some patients to choose a paid option close to home.

However, the move, announced last year, has drawn significant criticism from the Opposition NDP and public health advocates. They argue that the dual practice model will degrade an already under-resourced public system and fundamentally create a two-tier healthcare system. NDP critic Sharif Haji contends that the government should prioritize proper funding for the public health-care system, including staffing underused operating rooms, rather than moving towards a model that could disadvantage those unable to afford private surgeries.

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it will degrade an already under-resourced public system, and is fundamentally unfair.

Key details regarding the implementation of the dual practice model are still pending. Crucial information, such as the minimum number of hours a doctor must work in public facilities to be eligible for dual practice, has yet to be determined. Health professionals and advocates are concerned that the lack of clear details could compromise the integrity and accessibility of the public healthcare system, potentially exacerbating existing inequities.

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the government should properly fund the health-care system, including staffing under-used operating rooms, rather than moving towards a two-tier system.