EDMONTON – Alberta Health Services (AHS) has issued a “request for proposals” (RFP) for a new superlab that will see one private provider handle all of northern Alberta’s medical lab tests.
It’s expected to be a roughly $3 billion contract over the next 15 years.
AHS says it’s necessary because, as it stands, the current system can’t handle the number or the nature of tests that are required.
A new world-class facility is required, and instead of building one itself, AHS is looking to a private provider to both build and operate it.
The promise is that it will streamline the processes allowing, for instance, some tests which may currently take six to eight weeks to be completed in just days.
“We believe that with this model we’ve created is to have a world-class lab that will be the best in Canada and arguably internationally, as well,” said Rick Trimp, with AHS. “And we’ll be able to recruit and retain very highly-skilled individuals into this environment.”
The new model will replace the current blend of lab services provided by AHS, Covenant Health and contracted provider DynaLIFEDX. The latter currently performs about 60 per cent of testing in the Edmonton area.
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The plan has been widely criticized, with some saying it’s just one step closer to further privatization of the health care system.
“It seems like this massive privatization of lab services has been very rushed,” said NDP health critic, David Eggen.
“If you give a large chunk of your public health system over to a private provider, they will be able to call the shots – perhaps incrementally, but over time, it’s their $3 billion baby…I think everyone should be concerned about that, and I think we need to probe it much further.”
There are also worries that some urgent hospital tests may actually take longer under this system.
AHS says its RFP will try to address many of these concerns.
When it comes to staffing, AHS says no jobs are at risk as a result of this initiative.
Anyone who’s employed currently doing this kind of testing will have to be employed by whoever wins this bid. They’ll also have to maintain comparable salaries and benefits, including union status.
There haven’t been any bids entered yet, but companies that wish to be considered have until March 12, 2014 to submit a proposal.
The company selected will have until 2017 to have the new facility up and running.
With files from Fletcher Kent, Global News
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