Nearly 400 physicians interested in joining dual practice system: Alberta government

Nearly 400 specialist physicians have expressed interest in Alberta’s new dual-practice system, but none can begin privately paid surgeries until the province completes a formal application process.

The model will allow doctors to provide private services while continuing to work in the public system. It is expected to begin with elective procedures such as hip and knee replacements. The legislation enabling the system takes effect Tuesday, and the applications will be reviewed for eligibility, public-surgery hour requirements, monitoring and new reporting rules.

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This will help us gauge interest, understand what specialists are contemplating dual practice and prepare for the formal application process.

The government has not provided a completion date for the application process, but Surgical Services Minister Adriana LaGrange’s office said Alberta remains on track for the first dual-practice surgeries later this fall. The province has about 14,150 registered physicians, including nearly 550 who specialize in some form of surgery. Orthopedic surgeons account for 272 of those physicians.

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Applications will be reviewed to ensure eligibility criteria and government requirements are met, including public surgery hour requirements, monitoring and new reporting requirements.

The system has drawn criticism from provincial and national doctors’ associations and the Opposition NDP. Critics say it could create two-tier healthcare, benefiting people who can afford private treatment while taking resources away from the public system. The government says the existing system is not serving Albertans well and argues that dual practice would create more options and attract doctors.

Canadian Medical Association President Dr. Bolu Ogunyemi said he was not surprised that physicians were considering the model. “If we talk about private delivery of care or delivery of care outside of hospital settings, certainly it is more efficient and physicians can have more control,” he said.

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If we talk about private delivery of care or delivery of care outside of hospital settings, certainly it is more efficient and physicians can have more control.