EDMONTON — Alberta Health Services has chosen an Australian company to provide laboratory services in Edmonton and area for the next 15 years.
Sonic Healthcare Ltd. is to take over lab work currently done by Covenant Health, Alberta Health Services and Dynalife. Dynalife’s contract expires in March 2016.
The $3-billion contract is part of a plan announced last year to privatize lab services.
Sonic says it expects the contract will generate at least $200 million a year in revenue.
Vickie Kaminski, CEO of Alberta Health Services, says Sonic offered the best lab services value for the money.
“We looked at things like cost and quality, ability to do other tests – other than what was currently being done,” explained Kaminski. “A lot of looking at quality and cost and value for money.”
It’s expected about 2,000 lab workers will be affected by the contract change.
“We are going to need people to do all of the work that’s required in the lab,” said Kaminski. “And part of the discussions and negotiations with our preferred proponent is how we incorporate existing staff.”
Elisabeth Ballermann of the Health Sciences Association of Alberta says the move is another example of the Tory government’s aim to privatize health care.
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