A comprehensive new analysis from the Montreal Economic Institute indicates that Alberta's recently passed legislation permitting physicians to work in both public and private healthcare settings could significantly enhance the province's treatment capacity when implemented with appropriate regulatory frameworks. The report emphasizes that while Canada ranks among the world's highest healthcare spenders, the system continues to underperform compared to international counterparts, struggling with access issues, prolonged surgical wait times, and patients leaving emergency rooms without receiving necessary care.
Addressing Systemic Healthcare Challenges
Conrad Eder, association researcher at the Montreal Economic Institute and author of the report, explained that improving access to care requires increasing system capacity. "One effective approach to enhancing access within our healthcare framework involves boosting capacity through mixed practice models," Eder stated. "By expanding the availability and productivity of physicians to deliver services to patients, we can ultimately achieve shorter wait times for essential medical treatments."
Legislative Framework and Restrictions
The legislation, approved during Alberta's fall legislative session, enables qualified physicians to transition between public and private care environments. Participants must complete a minimum number of years serving in the public system before engaging in private practice. The law imposes specific restrictions on which medical specialties can operate privately and limits the hours allocated for private practice activities.
Notably, family physicians remain excluded from private practice participation, and emergency services, surgical procedures, and cancer treatments continue to be exclusively covered under the public healthcare plan. The government retains authority to modify these provisions through future legislative amendments.
Learning from European Models
Eder highlighted that dual-practice healthcare models have operated successfully in various European nations for decades. He emphasized that Alberta must establish a careful equilibrium between implementing essential safeguards and avoiding excessive restrictions that could undermine potential benefits.
The report identifies several regulatory elements present in higher-performing European healthcare systems that Alberta's current legislation lacks. These include mandatory revenue-sharing arrangements to compensate public facilities for infrastructure utilization and specific protections ensuring public patients receive priority treatment.
Potential System-Wide Benefits
"We strongly advocate for the Alberta government to consider extending mixed practice opportunities across all physician types and specialties to achieve comprehensive capacity improvements throughout the healthcare system," Eder urged.
According to the institute's analysis, permitting healthcare professionals to work additional hours beyond their public commitments provides physicians with greater flexibility while simultaneously increasing available health services. This approach also holds potential for enhanced physician retention and recruitment, addressing workforce challenges that contribute to current capacity limitations.
The report concludes that Alberta's dual-practice model represents a promising strategy for alleviating pressure on the healthcare system, provided implementation includes robust regulatory guardrails learned from international best practices. As the province moves forward with this innovative approach, careful monitoring and adjustment will be essential to maximize benefits while protecting public healthcare principles.
