Latest news with #HospitalsAct
Epoch Times
03-05-2025
- Health
- Epoch Times
Alberta Moves to Enable Final Steps in Health-Care Overhaul
The Alberta government has introduced legislative amendments that, if passed, would enable the final phase of a health-care restructuring process that began in 2023 and which officials say will improve service delivery and oversight. Bill 55, the Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2025, was Speaking at a May 1 The province has been working on a health-care overhaul All of the new agencies The new model was shaped through province-wide public engagement sessions, where Albertans and health-care workers shared their views on 'what a refocused health-care system looks like to them,' LaGrange said. The health-care restructuring won't disrupt delivery, the province said, adding there will be no job losses or changes to collective bargaining processes. Amendments Bill 55 amends the Public Health Act to transfer functions such as policy development, as well as public health inspections and surveillance, from AHS to the health ministry. Related Stories 4/16/2025 4/22/2025 Changes to the act would also transfer front-line public health duties, including communicable disease control, immunizations, and health promotion, from AHS to Primary Care Alberta. In addition, the province's medical officers of health would move into the office of the chief medical officer of health. The bill also amends the Health Information Act to grant the ministry of seniors, community and social services 'further powers,' including the collection, use, and disclosure of health information deemed necessary for its role as the sector ministry for continuing care, the province said. This ministry will be in charge of Assisted Living Alberta. The province also proposes changes to the Protection of Persons in Care Act, saying it 'takes all allegations of abuse in publicly funded care facilities seriously.' The changes would provide additional capacity to investigate abuse allegations, particularly those involving adult patients. Another proposed change would repeal certain sections of the Hospitals Act and incorporate elements of it into the Provincial Health Agencies Act, with the aim of streamlining health system governance under a single statute. Officials said the Hospitals Act is 'outdated legislation,' and that the changes won't impact quality of care in hospitals. Health reform has been a key part of Premier Danielle Smith's agenda. She has previously said she is not satisfied with the state of health care in the province. 'It's no secret I have been unhappy with the level and quality of service delivered by AHS and in the inability of AHS to deliver quality and timely healthcare to Albertans,' she said in a Feb. 8 social media 'I will continue to relentlessly push forward to make improvements. Although that has required difficult decisions and major change, I do not accept the current results.' As part of recent changes to the health system, the province announced last month a shift to an ' The change, the premier said, was aimed at increasing accountability and encouraging competition among medical centres while decreasing wait times. Meanwhile, the Opposition NDP has argued the change is a further step toward privatizing health care.
Hamilton Spectator
02-05-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Province introduces final-stages bill for health care remodel
The province of Alberta has introduced Bill 55, which would advance some of the final pieces of work to be done in refocusing the health-care system. The Bill, also known as the Health Statutes Amendment Act, addresses outstanding policy items, transfers services from Alberta Health Services to Primary Care Alberta and 'brings clarity to public health's role in the refocused system,' said the province. Amendments are proposed to the Provincial Health Agencies Act, Hospitals Act, Protection of Persons in Care Act, Health Information Act and the Public Health Act. Primary Care Alberta will oversee front-line public health services, such as communicable disease control, immunizations, newborn screening and health promotion. Other services, such as policy development, public health inspections and surveillance will be moved to Alberta Health. Alberta's government assured residents there will be no disruption to health delivery in the province during the transition, and no front-line job losses. 'Promoting and protecting the health of individuals, families and communities is foundational to Primary Care Alberta's commitment to bringing the right care to patients where they are,' said Kim Simmonds, president and CEO, Primary Care Alberta. 'I look forward to welcoming our front-line public health providers to the Primary Care Alberta team and working with these dedicated professionals to build a strong, unified health care system that improves health outcomes for all those who call Alberta home.' Among the amendments are also language changes, such as consolidating all hospital types into the term 'approved hospital' and other changes intended to better reflect the reality of Alberta's health-care systems. 'The new health shared services entity, which supports all four health services sectors, will provide oversight for health foundations in the refocused system. This is a natural fit for health foundations, as they work across all sectors. Legislation will also establish a clearer connection between health foundations and the communities they serve,' says the province. The bill would also amend the Health Information Act to give more power to the Ministry of Seniors, Community and Social Services to fulfil its role as the sector ministry for continuing care by enabling it to collect, use and disclose health information as necessary for the work of overseeing all continuing care, including Assisted Living Alberta. Sections of the Hospitals Act would also be repealed. These sections, says the province, are outdated and do not reflect 'current acute-care system governance or the introduction of new governance structures and ministerial roles.' 'A year and a half in, and we are in the final stages of refocusing Alberta's health-care system. The proposed changes will help us continue to improve the health-care system for all Albertans,' said Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health.
