News Releases:

March 30, 2006
CIMCA Applauds Alberta's Health Policy Framework
Fresh approach to health care reform puts patients first
Vancouver, BC,


The Klein government's new Health Policy Framework received kudos from CIMCA representatives who were in Calgary to meet with Minister of Health and Wellness Iris Evans on March 30th.

"The Framework document identifies fresh and innovative approaches to enhance the public health care system and has the potentials to rapidly reduce wait lists," said Zoltan Nagy, Executive Vice-President of CIMCA.

Nagy and CIMCA president Dr. Brian Day submitted CIMCA's Saving Medicare Policy Brief and encouraged the Alberta government to forge ahead with bold healthcare changes proposed in Alberta's new Health Policy Framework.

The Health Minister's plans to draft new health care legislation in the spring around "patient-focused health care, quality health services, and timely and fair access to services" were described by Nagy as "a high standard that all provinces should strive to attain."

"We applaud those provinces that have responded to the Supreme Court of Canada's criticism that governments have shown inertia. Alberta's plans will enhance Medicare and ensure it will be available for future generations."

The Health Policy Framework is not without its critics. NDP leader Jack Layton, and a few like minded provincial premiers expressed fears that Alberta would make queue-jumping permissible.

Dr. Brian Day responded that the answer to "queue jumping" is the elimination of queues.

"Albertans and other Canadians are ready to accept changes to our fatigued Medicare system," said Day. "A January 2006 COMPAS poll found that over 7 out of 10 Canadians favoured the Supreme Court decision allowing supplementary private health insurance and care."

Day encouraged Prime Minister Stephen Harper to disregard the naysayers and embrace the spirit of change found in Alberta's new health policy direction.

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