Against the backdrop of Calgary’s South Health Campus Monday morning, United Conservative Party leadership candidate Brian Jean pledged to pursue an overhaul of Alberta’s health-care system if he is chosen as leader of the new conservative coalition.
Jean told reporters Alberta has the “most expensive” health-care system in the country but contends it’s not delivering timely care to those who need it most.
“It’s clear there needs to be an entire rethink of how Albertans have health care done for them,” Jean said.
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Jean echoed sentiments found in a report from the office of the auditor general released in May which stated “more money is not the solution,” instead suggesting the system could be improved by changing its structure, finding ways to integrate physicians, and implementing a better record-keeping system.
“Spending won’t fix this problem,” Jean said. “Alberta already has the most expensive health care system in all of Canada.”
However, when it comes to the issue of money, Jean said he has no intention of making cuts to front-line staff.
“I’m saying the system’s broken; the people certainly aren’t.
“The professionals, the front-line workers, they do great work and they care. It’s the system itself that doesn’t empower them.”
“We need to empower those people to make sure they actually get the health care to the people that need it at the place they need it. And that’s not upper management; that’s at the front lines.”
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Jean’s policy proposes incentives for doctors to focus more on prevention to reduce costs. It also includes using more home care and flexible seniors facilities to stop couples from being separated in nursing homes.
With files from The Canadian Press
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