Alberta’s NDP is concerned about a trend that is seeing rural doctors bolt their communities.
Former Premier, Rachel Notley referenced a survey that over 300 rural physicians replied to.
The survey was commissioned by the Rural Sustainability Group, which is described by the Alberta Medical Association as a grassroots physician movement to draw attention to the situation facing rural health care.
The survey found that approximately 47 percent of doctors have been forced to decrease hospital-based services by July, while others indicated they will likely have to reduce services down the road.
Notley says the NDP’s solution is a three-point plan:
- The government restore the previous contract with our province’s physicians and negotiate in good faith before more changes are proposed.
- The official opposition is also proposing that the government enter third-party arbitration with the AMA to hammer out a new deal.
- Repeal the elements of Bill 21, which allows the province to void contacts with doctors.
“Family doctors are more likely to have hospital, or emergency room privileges,” says Notley. “This basically hurts anyone who has those privileges, and family doctors in rural areas are more likely to have that.”
Notley adds that recruiting doctors has always been a challenge for small communities.
“Whether it’s municipal folks, economic development folks, rotary folks or chamber of commerce folks, but in so much work to find doctors,” explains Notley. “I lived there (in the Peace Country) and it’s not easy.”
She is encouraging UCP MLA’s in rural communities to stand up to their cabinet.
“The cabinet is making the wrong decision,” states Notley. “This is hurting their communities in a way that will have a generational impact on.”
Notley says if the cabinet won’t listen to its MLA’s, Notley is offering the support of the NDP Caucus.
“If the cabinet does not change its mind, then we are offering to them to join with them –with our 24 MLA’s – to make changes in the legislature to protect rural health care across this province.”
There are 87 seats in the Alberta Legislature, and 63 are occupied by UCP members.
– Kenny Trenton, Trenton 55 Newsroom
