Alberta health minister stops expansion of private lab services

WATCH ABOVE: Health Minister Sarah Hoffman has stopped the expansion of private lab services in Edmonton and northern Alberta.

EDMONTON – Alberta Health Minister Sarah Hoffman has ordered AHS to stop the expansion of private delivery of lab services in Edmonton and northern Alberta.

Hoffman said she hasn’t seen evidence that it would be in the best interest of Albertans, so her department will do a provincewide review.

She said there’s no deadline for when the review will be completed, but she’d like it done as soon as possible.

If the process had continued, private companies would have increased their share of lab services to to 30 per cent across the province, she said. 

“High quality, comprehensive and reliable laboratory services are an important part of our health care system. It is my responsibility to ensure that all publicly-funded services are in the best interests of Albertans,” said Hoffman. 

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: <span style="background-color:rgba(255,255,255,0);">"High quality, comprehensive and reliable laboratory services are an important part of our health care system. It is my responsibility to ensure that all publicly-funded services are in the best interests of Albertans," said Hoffman. </span>

Friends of Medicare and the Health Sciences Association of Alberta, which represents lab technicians, said they are pleased with the government’s decision.

Last October, the Progressive Conservative government announced it had entered into negotiations with Sonic Healthcare to provide lab services in Edmonton and northern Alberta. 

DynaLife, which provides services in the Edmonton area with 26 patient–care centres and a central lab, appealed the decision. On Thursday, it was made public that Dynalife had won the appeal after a panel determined AHS breached its duty of procedural fairness in the Request for Proposal process. 

AHS was asked to re-enter negotiations. However, the decision of the appeal panel is no longer relevant because of Thursday’s announcement by the health minister.

DynaLife said it agrees with the health minister’s decision.

“We are committed to working with AHS and the Ministry of Health to ensure that the stability and confidence in Alberta’s lab system is maintained,” said Jason Pincock, DynaLife chief executive officer.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We are committed to working with AHS and the Ministry of Health to ensure that the stability and confidence in Alberta's lab system is maintained," said Jason Pincock, DynaLife chief executive officer.

Hoffman said the NDP has long had concerns with consolidating lab services to one provider.