Alberta Government announces developments to improving access to surgical care

The Government of Alberta announced their goal to improve access to surgical care and ensure that more Albertans receive the necessary surgeries within clinically recommended wait times in a news conference on Tuesday.

In 2019, the Government of Alberta launched the Alberta Surgical Initiative Capital Program to provide faster access to surgeries for more Albertans. As per the Government’s announcement, the province is on track to complete a record number of surgeries this year, including surgeries performed by Alberta Health Services and publicly funded chartered surgical facilities.

If Budget 2024 passes, the government plans to invest $618-million to improve access to facilities that perform surgeries and acute care.

Alberta’s health minister, Adriana LaGrange, has announced that the government is working towards refocusing the healthcare system to ensure timely and appropriate care for all Albertans.

LaGrange went on to say the Government is introducing new funding in order to ensure Albertans recieve the care they need when and where they need it.

Albertans should have access to health care when and where they need it. The Alberta Surgical Initiative is empowering healthcare providers to complete more surgeries while improving wait times. We are working closely with Alberta Health Services to address the existing backlog and introducing new funding to ensure the necessary facilities are in place to deliver timely care to Albertans.

Adriana LaGrange, Alberta Minister of Health

The Alberta Government will invest $313-million over three years in the Surgical Initiative Capital Program to enhance surgical capacity and utilization in urban and rural communities across the province.

Martin Long, the Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Health, emphasized that the Government and Alberta Health Services will collaborate to provide timely and appropriate healthcare to all Albertans.

Pete Guthrie, the Alberta Minister of Infrastructure, said this investment will not only benefit the healthcare system but also support thousands of construction-related jobs across the province.

By delivering Alberta Surgical Initiative projects in communities throughout the province, we are increasing surgical capacity, shortening surgical wait times and ensuring Albertans can get the treatment they need closer to home. This is not just an investment in our health care system, this will also support thousands of construction-related jobs across our province.

Pete Guthrie, Alberta Minister of Infrastructure

Budget 2024 allocates $159-million over three years to renovate medical device reprocessing departments province-wide, with the goal of supporting surgical services and addressing surgical backlog.