A group of Alberta physicians is voicing strong support for the province's recently announced health reforms, arguing that expanding private delivery within the publicly funded system is a necessary step to improve patient care. The authors, who have decades of frontline experience, contend that the current model is failing many working Albertans who cannot afford to wait years for essential surgeries.
The Crisis in Surgical Wait Times
The physicians highlight a troubling reality where long waits and limited access to surgical care are pushing thousands of patients to seek treatment outside the province or the country. Between 2017 and 2021, Canadians spent more than $2 billion on medical tourism, with an estimated 40 percent of the 24,000 patients who sought elective treatment abroad last year hailing from Alberta.
These patients are often not wealthy individuals seeking convenience. They are tradespeople, roofers, oilfield workers, and farmers whose pain limits their ability to work. The article describes a roofer facing a two-year wait for a hernia repair and workers with debilitating back pain who cannot wait years for a spine procedure. For them, seeking alternatives is not a choice but a necessity to maintain their livelihood.
Pressures on Physicians and the System
The strain is not limited to patients. The physicians point to systemic constraints that also hamper their ability to provide care. Many Alberta surgeons receive fewer than four operating-room days per month, creating a scenario where they are unable to do more for their patients. This has led some surgeons to travel to other provinces to provide private care, while others feel compelled to refer patients elsewhere or even suggest surgery abroad. A small number have left the public system entirely, further reducing local clinical capacity.
The reforms, introduced by Minister of Primary and Preventative Health, Adriana LaGrange, on Monday, November 24, 2025, are positioned as a way to address these dual challenges. The goal is to create a system that expands access without creating a two-tiered system that gives unfair advantages to those who can pay.
A Path Forward for Alberta Health Care
The physicians conclude that the proposed changes represent an important and overdue conversation for Alberta. They emphasize that the best-performing health systems are built on honest enquiry and thoughtful design. By carefully expanding private delivery within the public framework, Alberta has an opportunity to protect its valued public health system while making it more responsive and effective for all patients, especially the most vulnerable.
