Alberta lowers generic drug costs after talks with pharmacy chains
By Jim Macdonald (CP) – 2 days ago
EDMONTON — Alberta is reducing the price of generic drugs after having to compromise on a new price structure in negotiations with pharmacies and drug makers.
The province had hoped to reduce the cost of existing generic drugs to 45 per of the brand-name price - down from 75 per cent.
But Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky announced Thursday that the government settled for a rate of 56 per cent starting in April.
"You have to come up with a deal that the majority of the pharmacists and pharmaceutical providers can live with," the minister told a news conference.
"While 45 per cent may have been a target, you can't always get what you want and neither can they."
The government estimated last fall during the first round of generic drug price changes that a new pricing formula would save Alberta roughly $100 million a year on generic drugs.
But Zwozdesky conceded Thursday that the savings could end up being about $10 million lower because of the higher-than-expected rate that was negotiated.
"There was some give and take because the existing generics constitute a very large part of pharmacists' business," he said. "But I'm pretty pleased with the result."
Several provinces including Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia have already adopted lower generic drug prices. But Zwozdesky concedes their prices are closer to 50 per cent of the brand name price.
But the Alberta government was under pressure from rural pharmacies, which had been complaining that they might not survive under the new price structure.
This final phase of the Alberta Pharmaceutical Strategy also includes additional pay for pharmacists who are willing to consult with patients, review new medications or give immunizations.
Margaret Wing, with the Alberta Pharmacists Association, says this the deal announced Thursday is good for consumers, pharmacists and the province.
"Patients are going to be paying reduced costs on the generic drugs," she told reporters. "Pharmacists now have an opportunity to provide professional services and be compensated for that."
Liberal Health critic Kevin Taft is also praising the deal, calling it "a step in the right direction."
"We'd like it to continue to go further, but any steps the government takes to contain spending and costs on drugs is a good step," said Taft.
But David Eggen, with Friends of Medicare, says the government should have pushed harder to get a lower price.
"You won't achieve true savings for Albertans on drugs until you take on the drug manufacturers," said Eggen.
"You can see where there's a wall there and you just don't save any more until you start a pharmacare plan and get into negotiations with other provinces for a national pharmacare plan."
Alberta spends roughly $1.2 billion a year on prescription drugs, and about 35 per cent of these are generic drugs.
Last fall, the province announced that prices for new generic drugs would be set at 45 per cent of the cost of brand name drugs.
But right now the new drugs account for only a small fraction of total drug costs compared with existing generic drugs, which will be priced at the higher rate.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
Finish the job please!
ctvedmonton.ca
Albertans will be getting a price break on generic drugs as the government rolls out the next phase of its pharmaceutical strategy.
Effective April 1, the price of currently available or existing generic drugs, which are generic drugs already included in the Alberta Drug Benefit List as of October 1, 2009, will be reduced from 75 per cent to 56 per cent of the price of comparable brand name drugs.
Last fall, the province announced the price of new generic drugs would reduce from 75 per cent to 45 per cent of the price of comparable brand name drugs.
The second phase of the government's strategy also allows pharmacists to perform expanded services such as patient consultations, medication reviews and immunizations, to better meet the needs of their patients.
And it's a move the Alberta Pharmacist's Association is happy with.
"This is a very positive move on behalf of government during really tough times," said Margaret Wing.
But the reduction is not acceptable for some. Friends of Medicare argue the price of existing drugs should be the same as new generic drugs, at the 45 per cent level.
"This is a reduction in what was announced in the fall anywhere between $8 and $10 million [in] savings passed on to consumers. You won't achieve true savings for Albertans until you take on the drug manufacturers," said David Eggen with Friends of Medicare.
The strategy was expected to save the province $100 million a year, but the health minister now says that number may be seen more like a target.
"We are still targeting the $100 million in savings, but if it comes in at 90…so be it," said Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky.
The province says there has been no movement on the price of brand name drugs because it has no jurisdiction in that area. The minister did say the government hopes to negotiate contracts with brand name manufacturers to possibly reduce costs through volume discounts.
With files from Dez Melenka
Albertans will be getting a price break on generic drugs as the government rolls out the next phase of its pharmaceutical strategy.
Effective April 1, the price of currently available or existing generic drugs, which are generic drugs already included in the Alberta Drug Benefit List as of October 1, 2009, will be reduced from 75 per cent to 56 per cent of the price of comparable brand name drugs.
Last fall, the province announced the price of new generic drugs would reduce from 75 per cent to 45 per cent of the price of comparable brand name drugs.
The second phase of the government's strategy also allows pharmacists to perform expanded services such as patient consultations, medication reviews and immunizations, to better meet the needs of their patients.
And it's a move the Alberta Pharmacist's Association is happy with.
"This is a very positive move on behalf of government during really tough times," said Margaret Wing.
But the reduction is not acceptable for some. Friends of Medicare argue the price of existing drugs should be the same as new generic drugs, at the 45 per cent level.
"This is a reduction in what was announced in the fall anywhere between $8 and $10 million [in] savings passed on to consumers. You won't achieve true savings for Albertans until you take on the drug manufacturers," said David Eggen with Friends of Medicare.
The strategy was expected to save the province $100 million a year, but the health minister now says that number may be seen more like a target.
"We are still targeting the $100 million in savings, but if it comes in at 90…so be it," said Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky.
The province says there has been no movement on the price of brand name drugs because it has no jurisdiction in that area. The minister did say the government hopes to negotiate contracts with brand name manufacturers to possibly reduce costs through volume discounts.
With files from Dez Melenka
Gene: We want Pharmacare!
Alberta pharmaceutical plan to save patients $90M a year
By Jodie Sinnema, edmontonjournal.comJanuary 28, 2010Comments (9)
StoryPhotos ( 1 )
The competition bureau is urging the pharmaceutical industry to reform its approach to generic drugs.Photograph by: Phil Carpenter/Canwest News Service, npEDMONTON — The price of existing generic drugs in Alberta just got cheaper as the province’s health department gave more details on its pharmaceutical plan that will save patients approximately $90 million each year.
Starting April 1, prices for already-approved generic drugs will be 56 per cent of brand-name drug prices, down from the current 75 per cent people pay.
That’s not as low as the 45 per cent people will pay for new generic drugs, 15 to 20 of which are approved each year in Alberta, but Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky said the new cost strikes a balance between saving money and keeping community pharmacies viable.
“This has a tremendous impact on Albertans, positive impact, and also on the budget for the government of Alberta,” Zwozdesky said. “You have to come up with a deal that the majority of the pharmacists and the pharmaceutical providers can live with and while 45 (per cent) may have been a target, you can’t always get everything you want and neither can they.”
The negotiations mean Albertans will likely save closer to $90 million on drug costs compared to the original estimate of $100 million in savings.
Up until now, community pharmacies have depended upon rebates from drug manufacturers to keep their drugs on shelves, but will see that drop substantially under the new pharmaceutical plan. To compensate, the government is currently coming up with a new compensation plan that will pay pharmacists for giving vaccines, monitoring drug interactions and giving advice to patients.
Rural and remote pharmacies will also be able to tap into a $5 million fund, since pharmacists there are often the primary health-care providers. All pharmacists will get small dispensing allowances for each prescription less than $75 for the next three years.
“We’ve got a solid plan here for the next three years at least and hopefully it will be good enough to carry us forward,” Zwozdesky said. “I’m particularly sensitive to the concerns expressed by some of the rural pharmacists because I grew up in rural Alberta.”
Earlier this week, the CEO of Value Drug Mart launched a campaign, saying rural pharmacies — of which many towns have only one — could be in jeopardy of closing if there isn’t suitable compensation packages ironed out.
But Margaret Wing, acting executive director for the Alberta Pharmacists’ Association, said the new deal is a win for pharmacists, patients and the government.
“We’re really fortunate that we have a government that has provided a forum, has shown leadership in this and has provided us now with a model that we can understand,” said Wing. She said 90 per cent of community pharmacies were represented in negotiations for the new cost model for generic drugs and a plan to pay pharmacists for providing health care rather than just fill prescriptions. “We now have a sustainable, predictable model that we can move forward with.”
While the new generic drug prices kick in starting April, a new payment scheme won’t likely roll out until the summer, Zwozdesky said.
Liberal health critic Kevin Taft said the new pricing model is a step in the right direction.
“We’d like it to continue to go further but any steps the government takes to contain spending and costs on drugs, which are well recognized as the minister said as the fastest cost driver in the system, is a good step,” Taft said.
The government spends $1.2 billion each year on drugs, 40 per cent of which is on generic drugs.
Over the last 27 years, drug spending in Alberta has increased two times faster than physician spending and three times faster than hospital spending, according to Alberta Health and Wellness.
Dave Eggen, executive director of Friends of Medicare, said he’s disappointed the negotiated price reduction will save Albertans approximately $10 million less than originally estimated.
“You won’t achieve true savings for Albertans on drugs until you take on the drug manufacturers,” Eggen said. He called for a national pharmacare plan that would bring costs even further down.
jsinnema@thejournal.canwest.com
By Jodie Sinnema, edmontonjournal.comJanuary 28, 2010Comments (9)
StoryPhotos ( 1 )
The competition bureau is urging the pharmaceutical industry to reform its approach to generic drugs.Photograph by: Phil Carpenter/Canwest News Service, npEDMONTON — The price of existing generic drugs in Alberta just got cheaper as the province’s health department gave more details on its pharmaceutical plan that will save patients approximately $90 million each year.
Starting April 1, prices for already-approved generic drugs will be 56 per cent of brand-name drug prices, down from the current 75 per cent people pay.
That’s not as low as the 45 per cent people will pay for new generic drugs, 15 to 20 of which are approved each year in Alberta, but Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky said the new cost strikes a balance between saving money and keeping community pharmacies viable.
“This has a tremendous impact on Albertans, positive impact, and also on the budget for the government of Alberta,” Zwozdesky said. “You have to come up with a deal that the majority of the pharmacists and the pharmaceutical providers can live with and while 45 (per cent) may have been a target, you can’t always get everything you want and neither can they.”
The negotiations mean Albertans will likely save closer to $90 million on drug costs compared to the original estimate of $100 million in savings.
Up until now, community pharmacies have depended upon rebates from drug manufacturers to keep their drugs on shelves, but will see that drop substantially under the new pharmaceutical plan. To compensate, the government is currently coming up with a new compensation plan that will pay pharmacists for giving vaccines, monitoring drug interactions and giving advice to patients.
Rural and remote pharmacies will also be able to tap into a $5 million fund, since pharmacists there are often the primary health-care providers. All pharmacists will get small dispensing allowances for each prescription less than $75 for the next three years.
“We’ve got a solid plan here for the next three years at least and hopefully it will be good enough to carry us forward,” Zwozdesky said. “I’m particularly sensitive to the concerns expressed by some of the rural pharmacists because I grew up in rural Alberta.”
Earlier this week, the CEO of Value Drug Mart launched a campaign, saying rural pharmacies — of which many towns have only one — could be in jeopardy of closing if there isn’t suitable compensation packages ironed out.
But Margaret Wing, acting executive director for the Alberta Pharmacists’ Association, said the new deal is a win for pharmacists, patients and the government.
“We’re really fortunate that we have a government that has provided a forum, has shown leadership in this and has provided us now with a model that we can understand,” said Wing. She said 90 per cent of community pharmacies were represented in negotiations for the new cost model for generic drugs and a plan to pay pharmacists for providing health care rather than just fill prescriptions. “We now have a sustainable, predictable model that we can move forward with.”
While the new generic drug prices kick in starting April, a new payment scheme won’t likely roll out until the summer, Zwozdesky said.
Liberal health critic Kevin Taft said the new pricing model is a step in the right direction.
“We’d like it to continue to go further but any steps the government takes to contain spending and costs on drugs, which are well recognized as the minister said as the fastest cost driver in the system, is a good step,” Taft said.
The government spends $1.2 billion each year on drugs, 40 per cent of which is on generic drugs.
Over the last 27 years, drug spending in Alberta has increased two times faster than physician spending and three times faster than hospital spending, according to Alberta Health and Wellness.
Dave Eggen, executive director of Friends of Medicare, said he’s disappointed the negotiated price reduction will save Albertans approximately $10 million less than originally estimated.
“You won’t achieve true savings for Albertans on drugs until you take on the drug manufacturers,” Eggen said. He called for a national pharmacare plan that would bring costs even further down.
jsinnema@thejournal.canwest.com
Alberta lowers generic drug costs after talks with pharmacy chains
By Jim Macdonald (CP) – 6 hours ago
EDMONTON — Alberta is reducing the price of generic drugs after having to compromise on a new price structure in negotiations with pharmacies and drug makers.
The province had hoped to reduce the cost of existing generic drugs to 45 per of the brand-name price - down from 75 per cent.
But Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky announced Thursday that the government settled for a rate of 56 per cent starting in April.
"You have to come up with a deal that the majority of the pharmacists and pharmaceutical providers can live with," the minister told a news conference.
"While 45 per cent may have been a target, you can't always get what you want and neither can they."
The government estimated last fall during the first round of generic drug price changes that a new pricing formula would save Alberta roughly $100 million a year on generic drugs.
But Zwozdesky conceded Thursday that the savings could end up being about $10 million lower because of the higher-than-expected rate that was negotiated.
"There was some give and take because the existing generics constitute a very large part of pharmacists' business," he said. "But I'm pretty pleased with the result."
Several provinces including Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia have already adopted lower generic drug prices. But Zwozdesky concedes their prices are closer to 50 per cent of the brand name price.
But the Alberta government was under pressure from rural pharmacies, which had been complaining that they might not survive under the new price structure.
This final phase of the Alberta Pharmaceutical Strategy also includes additional pay for pharmacists who are willing to consult with patients, review new medications or give immunizations.
Margaret Wing, with the Alberta Pharmacists Association, says this the deal announced Thursday is good for consumers, pharmacists and the province.
"Patients are going to be paying reduced costs on the generic drugs," she told reporters. "Pharmacists now have an opportunity to provide professional services and be compensated for that."
Liberal Health critic Kevin Taft is also praising the deal, calling it "a step in the right direction."
"We'd like it to continue to go further, but any steps the government takes to contain spending and costs on drugs is a good step," said Taft.
But David Eggen, with Friends of Medicare, says the government should have pushed harder to get a lower price.
"You won't achieve true savings for Albertans on drugs until you take on the drug manufacturers," said Eggen.
"You can see where there's a wall there and you just don't save any more until you start a pharmacare plan and get into negotiations with other provinces for a national pharmacare plan."
Alberta spends roughly $1.2 billion a year on prescription drugs, and about 35 per cent of these are generic drugs.
Last fall, the province announced that prices for new generic drugs would be set at 45 per cent of the cost of brand name drugs.
But right now the new drugs account for only a small fraction of total drug costs compared with existing generic drugs, which will be priced at the higher rate.
Copyright © 2010 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
By Jim Macdonald (CP) – 6 hours ago
EDMONTON — Alberta is reducing the price of generic drugs after having to compromise on a new price structure in negotiations with pharmacies and drug makers.
The province had hoped to reduce the cost of existing generic drugs to 45 per of the brand-name price - down from 75 per cent.
But Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky announced Thursday that the government settled for a rate of 56 per cent starting in April.
"You have to come up with a deal that the majority of the pharmacists and pharmaceutical providers can live with," the minister told a news conference.
"While 45 per cent may have been a target, you can't always get what you want and neither can they."
The government estimated last fall during the first round of generic drug price changes that a new pricing formula would save Alberta roughly $100 million a year on generic drugs.
But Zwozdesky conceded Thursday that the savings could end up being about $10 million lower because of the higher-than-expected rate that was negotiated.
"There was some give and take because the existing generics constitute a very large part of pharmacists' business," he said. "But I'm pretty pleased with the result."
Several provinces including Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia have already adopted lower generic drug prices. But Zwozdesky concedes their prices are closer to 50 per cent of the brand name price.
But the Alberta government was under pressure from rural pharmacies, which had been complaining that they might not survive under the new price structure.
This final phase of the Alberta Pharmaceutical Strategy also includes additional pay for pharmacists who are willing to consult with patients, review new medications or give immunizations.
Margaret Wing, with the Alberta Pharmacists Association, says this the deal announced Thursday is good for consumers, pharmacists and the province.
"Patients are going to be paying reduced costs on the generic drugs," she told reporters. "Pharmacists now have an opportunity to provide professional services and be compensated for that."
Liberal Health critic Kevin Taft is also praising the deal, calling it "a step in the right direction."
"We'd like it to continue to go further, but any steps the government takes to contain spending and costs on drugs is a good step," said Taft.
But David Eggen, with Friends of Medicare, says the government should have pushed harder to get a lower price.
"You won't achieve true savings for Albertans on drugs until you take on the drug manufacturers," said Eggen.
"You can see where there's a wall there and you just don't save any more until you start a pharmacare plan and get into negotiations with other provinces for a national pharmacare plan."
Alberta spends roughly $1.2 billion a year on prescription drugs, and about 35 per cent of these are generic drugs.
Last fall, the province announced that prices for new generic drugs would be set at 45 per cent of the cost of brand name drugs.
But right now the new drugs account for only a small fraction of total drug costs compared with existing generic drugs, which will be priced at the higher rate.
Copyright © 2010 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Friends of Medicare Executive Director David Eggen said Friday the province's new health minister should carefully review Alberta Health Services' CEO Stephen Duckett's contract.
Friends of Medicare call for Zwozdesky to review Duckett's contract
Updated: Fri Jan. 22 2010 14:28:06
ctvedmonton.ca
A special interest group is weighing in on the future of Alberta Health Services' CEO Stephen Duckett.
The group says the province's new Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky should carefully review Duckett's contract and terms of employment to help restore Albertan's confidence in the way health decisions are made in this province.
"It is a very expensive contract with an indefinite term, but there are provisions for both parties to seek termination, " said David Eggen, executive director of Friends of Medicare.
Duckett was hired by former health minister Ron Liepert in March of 2009. Documents show Duckett makes a base salary of nearly $600,000 plus bonuses.
Friends of Medicare say he hasn't improved the health-care system in his year here. Eggen argues the recent decision by Zwozdesky to halt Duckett's plan for nearly 300 acute care bed closures in Edmonton and Calgary is a sign that Duckett is on the wrong track.
"How many times do you reach over your CEO and president before that person becomes redundant...before it becomes obvious that we could find a more moderate leader? Perhaps with more moderate compensation that could do the job better," said Eggen.
A spokesperson for Alberta Health Services says there are no current plans to review Duckett's contract.
The superboard maintains Zwozdesky still fully supports Duckett, despite overruling the bed closure decision.
On Thursday, Zwozdesky cited a jump in population as one of the reasons why he overturned the decision to close hundreds of beds.
And despite the back track, Gene Zwozdesky confirms those beds could still be shut down after a review is completed.
"We have circumstances that are different, for example we have over 90,000 new Albertans from July to July of a year ago... so there are those kind of changes that have to be included in there," said Zwozdesky.
The health board also announced Thursday it's launching benchmarks for health care performance, which will include hospital wait times and patient satisfaction. The results for some of those categories will be made public later this year.
With files from Bill Fortier
Friends of Medicare call for Zwozdesky to review Duckett's contract
Updated: Fri Jan. 22 2010 14:28:06
ctvedmonton.ca
A special interest group is weighing in on the future of Alberta Health Services' CEO Stephen Duckett.
The group says the province's new Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky should carefully review Duckett's contract and terms of employment to help restore Albertan's confidence in the way health decisions are made in this province.
"It is a very expensive contract with an indefinite term, but there are provisions for both parties to seek termination, " said David Eggen, executive director of Friends of Medicare.
Duckett was hired by former health minister Ron Liepert in March of 2009. Documents show Duckett makes a base salary of nearly $600,000 plus bonuses.
Friends of Medicare say he hasn't improved the health-care system in his year here. Eggen argues the recent decision by Zwozdesky to halt Duckett's plan for nearly 300 acute care bed closures in Edmonton and Calgary is a sign that Duckett is on the wrong track.
"How many times do you reach over your CEO and president before that person becomes redundant...before it becomes obvious that we could find a more moderate leader? Perhaps with more moderate compensation that could do the job better," said Eggen.
A spokesperson for Alberta Health Services says there are no current plans to review Duckett's contract.
The superboard maintains Zwozdesky still fully supports Duckett, despite overruling the bed closure decision.
On Thursday, Zwozdesky cited a jump in population as one of the reasons why he overturned the decision to close hundreds of beds.
And despite the back track, Gene Zwozdesky confirms those beds could still be shut down after a review is completed.
"We have circumstances that are different, for example we have over 90,000 new Albertans from July to July of a year ago... so there are those kind of changes that have to be included in there," said Zwozdesky.
The health board also announced Thursday it's launching benchmarks for health care performance, which will include hospital wait times and patient satisfaction. The results for some of those categories will be made public later this year.
With files from Bill Fortier
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Paula Simons - Edmonton Journal
Duckett has my sympathy
Work to cut health care dismantled in a day
By Paula Simons, Edmonton JournalJanuary 21, 2010 9:14 AMComments (8)
StoryPhotos ( 1 )
I do believe that Ed Stelmach and Gene Zwozdesky have achieved the near impossible.
I think they've actually made me feel sorry for Stephen Duckett, the CEO of Alberta Health Services.
On Monday, the province spiked Duckett's plans to close almost 150 psychiatric beds at Alberta Hospital.
On Wednesday morning, Zwozdesky upped the ante -- a lot. Appearing as a guest on a radio talk show, he chattily remarked that he had just told Duckett and AHS board chairman Ken Hughes to shelve their plans to close almost 300 acute-care beds at Edmonton and Calgary hospitals.
Duckett, you'll recall, had announced those bed closures with great fanfare at a press conference last September. At the time, he suggested his master plan would save cash-strapped Alberta Health Services up to $50 million a year in staffing and operating expenses.
Whether plans to close all those hospital beds ever made any sense, in a province where waiting lists lengthen and emergency rooms overflow, is a legitimate question. Forcing sick people to wait longer for care, while their symptoms gets worse and worse, is a pretty dubious economy.
So it's easy enough to applaud the health minister for using his authority to veto Duckett's vision. In just three days, Zwozdesky has saved a total of 450 acute-care beds.
Keeping those beds open, Zwozdesky told me Wednesday, was necessary to restore public confidence in the health-care system and to provide reassurance to patients and their families.
"I looked at this whole situation and I thought, 'What does the system need most right now?' I've been up to see friends and relatives in acute care and it's stressful enough to begin with.
"If we can show some additional compassion, why shouldn't we do that?"
For Zwozdesky, it's a savvy political move, the chance to play the gallant knight on the white horse who's galloping in to salvage what's left of Ed Stelmach's battered reputation as a nice guy/man of the people.
However, it can't be much fun for Duckett to watch as the new health minister unravels so much of the work he's done the past six months. After all, it was Zwozdesky's predecessor, Ron Liepert, who gave Duckett the mandate and the orders to cut spending and reorganize hospital-care delivery.
Duckett was out of town and unavailable for comment Wednesday but who could blame him if he felt the rug had been pulled out from under his feet?
So is a chastened Alberta Health Services going back to the drawing board?
"No, no, not at all," board chairman Ken Hughes insisted Wednesday when I asked him.
"This is completely consistent with where we've been going."
"I know the minister was completely behind what Dr. Duckett and Alberta Health Services were doing."
To hear Hughes tell it, Zwozdesky's reversal of Duckett's announcements is actually a tribute to the work Duckett has done to reduce costs. Hughes said the reorganization of AHS had already captured $420 million in savings, giving the province the flexibility to keep all those beds open after all.
And Hughes rejected suggestions that Zwozdesky's veto of major AHS policy decisions signalled any loss of confidence in the way it was being run.
"Dr. Duckett reports to me as chairman, to me and the board. In no way has his authority to do his job been compromised."
Perhaps not. But from the outside, it certainly looks as if the combative Duckett has had his political position seriously undermined.
The irony of Zwozdesky's latest policy reversal is that it came on the same day that the Report of the Minister's Advisory Committee on Health, chaired by MLA Fred Horne and patient advocate Deborah Prowse, was delivered to the minister and released publicly. The report found that there needs to be a better understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the various "governance organizations" in the health system to ensure accountability and restore public trust. How very true. What we have right now is a woefully muddled system, where no one seems to be sure who's responsible for setting policy, where immense institutional power has been concentrated in the hands of one unelected bureaucrat, but where the government has retained the right to meddle with an arm's-length agency whenever the political heat grows too intense.
So who, in the end, is accountable to Albertans for this game of musical beds? Who's really in charge of Alberta's health-care system?
That answer's still not clear.
"I will be hands-on, but I will not try to run the system," Zwozdesky said Wednesday. "I want to make it very clear that I have confidence in Mr. Duckett and I respect him as a man who has tremendous knowledge in the health-care economics field. He is so-called 'good people.' His heart's in the right place."
That's good to hear. But if I were Duckett, it wouldn't be my heart I'd be worried about.
psimons@thejournal.canwest.comtwitter.com/Paulatics
© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal
Work to cut health care dismantled in a day
By Paula Simons, Edmonton JournalJanuary 21, 2010 9:14 AMComments (8)
StoryPhotos ( 1 )
I do believe that Ed Stelmach and Gene Zwozdesky have achieved the near impossible.
I think they've actually made me feel sorry for Stephen Duckett, the CEO of Alberta Health Services.
On Monday, the province spiked Duckett's plans to close almost 150 psychiatric beds at Alberta Hospital.
On Wednesday morning, Zwozdesky upped the ante -- a lot. Appearing as a guest on a radio talk show, he chattily remarked that he had just told Duckett and AHS board chairman Ken Hughes to shelve their plans to close almost 300 acute-care beds at Edmonton and Calgary hospitals.
Duckett, you'll recall, had announced those bed closures with great fanfare at a press conference last September. At the time, he suggested his master plan would save cash-strapped Alberta Health Services up to $50 million a year in staffing and operating expenses.
Whether plans to close all those hospital beds ever made any sense, in a province where waiting lists lengthen and emergency rooms overflow, is a legitimate question. Forcing sick people to wait longer for care, while their symptoms gets worse and worse, is a pretty dubious economy.
So it's easy enough to applaud the health minister for using his authority to veto Duckett's vision. In just three days, Zwozdesky has saved a total of 450 acute-care beds.
Keeping those beds open, Zwozdesky told me Wednesday, was necessary to restore public confidence in the health-care system and to provide reassurance to patients and their families.
"I looked at this whole situation and I thought, 'What does the system need most right now?' I've been up to see friends and relatives in acute care and it's stressful enough to begin with.
"If we can show some additional compassion, why shouldn't we do that?"
For Zwozdesky, it's a savvy political move, the chance to play the gallant knight on the white horse who's galloping in to salvage what's left of Ed Stelmach's battered reputation as a nice guy/man of the people.
However, it can't be much fun for Duckett to watch as the new health minister unravels so much of the work he's done the past six months. After all, it was Zwozdesky's predecessor, Ron Liepert, who gave Duckett the mandate and the orders to cut spending and reorganize hospital-care delivery.
Duckett was out of town and unavailable for comment Wednesday but who could blame him if he felt the rug had been pulled out from under his feet?
So is a chastened Alberta Health Services going back to the drawing board?
"No, no, not at all," board chairman Ken Hughes insisted Wednesday when I asked him.
"This is completely consistent with where we've been going."
"I know the minister was completely behind what Dr. Duckett and Alberta Health Services were doing."
To hear Hughes tell it, Zwozdesky's reversal of Duckett's announcements is actually a tribute to the work Duckett has done to reduce costs. Hughes said the reorganization of AHS had already captured $420 million in savings, giving the province the flexibility to keep all those beds open after all.
And Hughes rejected suggestions that Zwozdesky's veto of major AHS policy decisions signalled any loss of confidence in the way it was being run.
"Dr. Duckett reports to me as chairman, to me and the board. In no way has his authority to do his job been compromised."
Perhaps not. But from the outside, it certainly looks as if the combative Duckett has had his political position seriously undermined.
The irony of Zwozdesky's latest policy reversal is that it came on the same day that the Report of the Minister's Advisory Committee on Health, chaired by MLA Fred Horne and patient advocate Deborah Prowse, was delivered to the minister and released publicly. The report found that there needs to be a better understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the various "governance organizations" in the health system to ensure accountability and restore public trust. How very true. What we have right now is a woefully muddled system, where no one seems to be sure who's responsible for setting policy, where immense institutional power has been concentrated in the hands of one unelected bureaucrat, but where the government has retained the right to meddle with an arm's-length agency whenever the political heat grows too intense.
So who, in the end, is accountable to Albertans for this game of musical beds? Who's really in charge of Alberta's health-care system?
That answer's still not clear.
"I will be hands-on, but I will not try to run the system," Zwozdesky said Wednesday. "I want to make it very clear that I have confidence in Mr. Duckett and I respect him as a man who has tremendous knowledge in the health-care economics field. He is so-called 'good people.' His heart's in the right place."
That's good to hear. But if I were Duckett, it wouldn't be my heart I'd be worried about.
psimons@thejournal.canwest.comtwitter.com/Paulatics
© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal
Don Braid - Calgary Herald
Braid: Politics are back on the health agenda
By Don Braid, Calgary HeraldJanuary 21, 2010 9:02 AMComments (2)
StoryPhotos ( 1 )
Remember when the Tories banned politics from health care?
That was last week. Now politics are back, propelled by public anger the government can no longer brush aside like some forgotten soul on an emergency ward.
New Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky says he's told health board chairman Ken Hughes, and CEO Stephen Duckett, not to close any more acute-care beds in Calgary and Edmonton.
There could hardly be a clearer sign that the Tories are in full flight from the polls, desperate to win back some popularity.
You might find yourself liking Zwozdesky's order.
I do. The system needs beds and only the health services board doesn't seem to know it.
But with that one highly symbolic move, the new minister reversed the health-care strategy that got Guy Boutilier kicked out of Premier Ed Stelmach's caucus, and helped bring the government to historic lows in the polls.
Zwozdesky sounds as caring as Mother Teresa, compared with ex-minister Ron Liepert. With his chair barely warm, he suggests that many of Liepert's draconian reforms could be axed, or at least altered.
The minister even passed up a chance to say clearly that the health superboard will survive as it now exists.
Nothing will change for now, Zwozdesky said, but he's talking to many stakeholders about whether it's working.
Oh. After going from 17 regions to nine and then one, the number might possibly rise again. Why not? Eventually the right number might come up.
So ends the Age of Ron, who preached that health care could not be reformed by constantly reacting to public upset.
Tough choices had to be made and everybody would feel some pain. Only an expert central authority could make the calls.
Duckett the Aussie enforcer was hired to do the job and take the abuse. The minister was expected to keep his nose out of operations.
Tory MLAs were under orders to defend this approach in their ridings. Their job was to explain the government's view to the voters, not come whining to caucus with local problems.
Caucus agreed, although many MLAs were nervous. It's no fun being blasted at those riding meetings.
Over time the approach might have worked in a brutal, Soviet way. But it wouldn't have a chance unless everybody -- all MLAs and ministers -- shut up about local problems.
Last summer, Boutilier broke that mould by demanding a long-planned seniors centre for Fort McMurray. He was punted for the evil of playing politics (also for accusing the premier of breaking a promise.)
His dangerous precedent threatened to shatter caucus omerta. If he'd gotten away with it, chaos would have erupted.
Well, now the health minister himself is the agent of chaos. And he doesn't have to settle for a puny news conference in Fort McMurray. He can give the health bosses themselves a direct order.
Ken Hughes seemed a bit testy Wednesday. You could hardly blame him. The rules he and Duckett work under have suddenly changed.
Duckett himself might be reviewing the severance sections of his contract, especially after Zwozdesky's lukewarm endorsement: "I have confidence in what Mr. Duckett is trying to do."
Politics are back on the ward. Public opinion is suddenly important again. In a public health system funded by the taxpayer, it was ridiculous to banish them in the first place.
dbraid@theherald.canwest.com
By Don Braid, Calgary HeraldJanuary 21, 2010 9:02 AMComments (2)
StoryPhotos ( 1 )
Remember when the Tories banned politics from health care?
That was last week. Now politics are back, propelled by public anger the government can no longer brush aside like some forgotten soul on an emergency ward.
New Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky says he's told health board chairman Ken Hughes, and CEO Stephen Duckett, not to close any more acute-care beds in Calgary and Edmonton.
There could hardly be a clearer sign that the Tories are in full flight from the polls, desperate to win back some popularity.
You might find yourself liking Zwozdesky's order.
I do. The system needs beds and only the health services board doesn't seem to know it.
But with that one highly symbolic move, the new minister reversed the health-care strategy that got Guy Boutilier kicked out of Premier Ed Stelmach's caucus, and helped bring the government to historic lows in the polls.
Zwozdesky sounds as caring as Mother Teresa, compared with ex-minister Ron Liepert. With his chair barely warm, he suggests that many of Liepert's draconian reforms could be axed, or at least altered.
The minister even passed up a chance to say clearly that the health superboard will survive as it now exists.
Nothing will change for now, Zwozdesky said, but he's talking to many stakeholders about whether it's working.
Oh. After going from 17 regions to nine and then one, the number might possibly rise again. Why not? Eventually the right number might come up.
So ends the Age of Ron, who preached that health care could not be reformed by constantly reacting to public upset.
Tough choices had to be made and everybody would feel some pain. Only an expert central authority could make the calls.
Duckett the Aussie enforcer was hired to do the job and take the abuse. The minister was expected to keep his nose out of operations.
Tory MLAs were under orders to defend this approach in their ridings. Their job was to explain the government's view to the voters, not come whining to caucus with local problems.
Caucus agreed, although many MLAs were nervous. It's no fun being blasted at those riding meetings.
Over time the approach might have worked in a brutal, Soviet way. But it wouldn't have a chance unless everybody -- all MLAs and ministers -- shut up about local problems.
Last summer, Boutilier broke that mould by demanding a long-planned seniors centre for Fort McMurray. He was punted for the evil of playing politics (also for accusing the premier of breaking a promise.)
His dangerous precedent threatened to shatter caucus omerta. If he'd gotten away with it, chaos would have erupted.
Well, now the health minister himself is the agent of chaos. And he doesn't have to settle for a puny news conference in Fort McMurray. He can give the health bosses themselves a direct order.
Ken Hughes seemed a bit testy Wednesday. You could hardly blame him. The rules he and Duckett work under have suddenly changed.
Duckett himself might be reviewing the severance sections of his contract, especially after Zwozdesky's lukewarm endorsement: "I have confidence in what Mr. Duckett is trying to do."
Politics are back on the ward. Public opinion is suddenly important again. In a public health system funded by the taxpayer, it was ridiculous to banish them in the first place.
dbraid@theherald.canwest.com
Lethbridge Herald
Alberta health report debated
Written by Dave Mabell Lethbridge Herald
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
Albertans voiced mixed reactions Wednesday to a report urging a charter of rights for health-care patients.
The province’s registered nurses applauded the report, written by a 16-member panel which heard stakeholders’ presentations and contacted Albertans over the Internet. So did Premier Ed Stelmach, who appointed a new health minister in a cabinet shuffle last week.
While conceding the report “has some interesting suggestions,” however, the province’s Friends of Medicare warned it could lead indirectly to more privatized health services.
In Lethbridge meanwhile, MLA Greg Weadick said the report’s comments and recommendations parallel many he’s heard from southern Albertans.
“What I hear them say is we need a more patient-focused care system,” he said. “I think the committee did a good job in talking with a lot of people.”
The report, commissioned a year ago by then-minister Ron Liepert, will now be considered by his successor, Gene Zwozdesky.
“I think the new minister is really going to appreciate starting a new job and seeing this report on his desk.”
Weadick, a Conservative MLA representing Lethbridge West, also underlined its support for the Canada Health Act. Many Albertans, he said, value their medicare system as “part of what it means to be Canadian.”
The report’s emphasis on preventive health measures is another plus, he said. Prevention has become a greater focus in the “primary care networks” now serving many southern Alberta patients, he added.
The province’s ongoing H1N1 flu vaccination program, he added, is another example of the value in investing in prevention.
“Because people supported (the clinics) we stemmed the flow of the virus.”
Along with its focus on public health and putting the patient first, the report called for equitable access to “timely and appropriate care,” for a culture of trust and respect throughout the health care system, and a commitment to quality and safety.
(The full report is available on-line at www.ministersadvisorycommitteeonhealth.ca )
In releasing the report, government MLA Fred Horne told an Edmonton news conference when writing the new Alberta Health Act, the government should include a patients’ charter “and stronger support for evidence-based decision making.”
His goal is “a new, clearly defined understanding or ‘compact’ with Albertans about their health and health care — and we believe this should be written into law.”
Also in Edmonton, the nursing profession’s spokesperson endorsed the report and its stated principles.
“The principles also reflect values of registered nursing, such as supporting a publicly funded health system, using evidence-based decision making, and involving citizens and health care providers in decisions affecting their health system,” said Mary-Anne Robinson, executive director of the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta.
While stopping short of accepting the report and its recommendations, the premier said he’s “very pleased with the direction of the report” although he’d like still more feedback from Albertans.
“I’ve asked the minister . . . to act quickly in reviewing the report, and get back to me with a response,” Stelmach reported in a brief statement. “In the meantime, I look forward to listening to what Albertans have to say about the report.”
Speaking for Friends of Medicare across the province, spokesperson David Eggen urged Albertans to take up that challenge. It was widespread public debate about cuts and changes to the health system that prompted the government to commission the report, he suggested.
“It shows the power of people getting out and voicing their concerns.”
Just the same, Eggen said scrapping the existing health act — along with the province’s mental health act, public health act, hospitals act, health insurance act, nursing homes act and still more — could provide an opening to make many negative changes. Some could open the door to much more private, for-profit health services.
“This sends the signal the government wants to open our health legislation to some significant changes.”
Under the Conservative government’s rule in recent years, Eggen said, many of those changes — particularly in closing hospital beds and services — have been negative. While the province’s population has grown steadily, Eggen said Albertans had 13,500 beds available in the mid-1990s but now they have little more than 6,800.
“Now we have just half as many beds as we did 15 years ago
Written by Dave Mabell Lethbridge Herald
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
Albertans voiced mixed reactions Wednesday to a report urging a charter of rights for health-care patients.
The province’s registered nurses applauded the report, written by a 16-member panel which heard stakeholders’ presentations and contacted Albertans over the Internet. So did Premier Ed Stelmach, who appointed a new health minister in a cabinet shuffle last week.
While conceding the report “has some interesting suggestions,” however, the province’s Friends of Medicare warned it could lead indirectly to more privatized health services.
In Lethbridge meanwhile, MLA Greg Weadick said the report’s comments and recommendations parallel many he’s heard from southern Albertans.
“What I hear them say is we need a more patient-focused care system,” he said. “I think the committee did a good job in talking with a lot of people.”
The report, commissioned a year ago by then-minister Ron Liepert, will now be considered by his successor, Gene Zwozdesky.
“I think the new minister is really going to appreciate starting a new job and seeing this report on his desk.”
Weadick, a Conservative MLA representing Lethbridge West, also underlined its support for the Canada Health Act. Many Albertans, he said, value their medicare system as “part of what it means to be Canadian.”
The report’s emphasis on preventive health measures is another plus, he said. Prevention has become a greater focus in the “primary care networks” now serving many southern Alberta patients, he added.
The province’s ongoing H1N1 flu vaccination program, he added, is another example of the value in investing in prevention.
“Because people supported (the clinics) we stemmed the flow of the virus.”
Along with its focus on public health and putting the patient first, the report called for equitable access to “timely and appropriate care,” for a culture of trust and respect throughout the health care system, and a commitment to quality and safety.
(The full report is available on-line at www.ministersadvisorycommitteeonhealth.ca )
In releasing the report, government MLA Fred Horne told an Edmonton news conference when writing the new Alberta Health Act, the government should include a patients’ charter “and stronger support for evidence-based decision making.”
His goal is “a new, clearly defined understanding or ‘compact’ with Albertans about their health and health care — and we believe this should be written into law.”
Also in Edmonton, the nursing profession’s spokesperson endorsed the report and its stated principles.
“The principles also reflect values of registered nursing, such as supporting a publicly funded health system, using evidence-based decision making, and involving citizens and health care providers in decisions affecting their health system,” said Mary-Anne Robinson, executive director of the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta.
While stopping short of accepting the report and its recommendations, the premier said he’s “very pleased with the direction of the report” although he’d like still more feedback from Albertans.
“I’ve asked the minister . . . to act quickly in reviewing the report, and get back to me with a response,” Stelmach reported in a brief statement. “In the meantime, I look forward to listening to what Albertans have to say about the report.”
Speaking for Friends of Medicare across the province, spokesperson David Eggen urged Albertans to take up that challenge. It was widespread public debate about cuts and changes to the health system that prompted the government to commission the report, he suggested.
“It shows the power of people getting out and voicing their concerns.”
Just the same, Eggen said scrapping the existing health act — along with the province’s mental health act, public health act, hospitals act, health insurance act, nursing homes act and still more — could provide an opening to make many negative changes. Some could open the door to much more private, for-profit health services.
“This sends the signal the government wants to open our health legislation to some significant changes.”
Under the Conservative government’s rule in recent years, Eggen said, many of those changes — particularly in closing hospital beds and services — have been negative. While the province’s population has grown steadily, Eggen said Albertans had 13,500 beds available in the mid-1990s but now they have little more than 6,800.
“Now we have just half as many beds as we did 15 years ago
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Calgary NE Meeting
Health-care concerns draw crowd
Calgary Herald
Published: Monday, January 18, 2010
Health-care advocacy group Friends of Medicare reached out to Calgary's South Asian immigrant community Sunday, giving them a forum to talk about the system.
Jagtar Shergill said about 120 people turned up at a forum at the Whitehorn Community Centre in the city's northeast, with many expressing the same concerns as other Calgarians about access to doctors and long waiting lists to see specialists or get tests like an MRI.
"Most of the concerns were that the government is not listening and we're getting policies forced on us," said Shergill. "They're telling us what they're doing and not consulting the community."
Email to a friend
Printer friendly
Font:****Shergill said there were people from the city's Indo-Canadian community who told stories of sending relatives to India to get treatment or tests because it's quicker.
"I think it's a shame. We are such a wealthy country and these people are going outside to get basic treatment," said Shergill.
But most immigrants can't afford to seek treatment outside the country, nor have they had anywhere to go with their complaints about the system.
Shergill said Friends of Medicare is trying to mobilize those communities and take their concerns to the government.
© Calgary Herald 2010
Calgary Herald
Published: Monday, January 18, 2010
Health-care advocacy group Friends of Medicare reached out to Calgary's South Asian immigrant community Sunday, giving them a forum to talk about the system.
Jagtar Shergill said about 120 people turned up at a forum at the Whitehorn Community Centre in the city's northeast, with many expressing the same concerns as other Calgarians about access to doctors and long waiting lists to see specialists or get tests like an MRI.
"Most of the concerns were that the government is not listening and we're getting policies forced on us," said Shergill. "They're telling us what they're doing and not consulting the community."
Email to a friend
Printer friendly
Font:****Shergill said there were people from the city's Indo-Canadian community who told stories of sending relatives to India to get treatment or tests because it's quicker.
"I think it's a shame. We are such a wealthy country and these people are going outside to get basic treatment," said Shergill.
But most immigrants can't afford to seek treatment outside the country, nor have they had anywhere to go with their complaints about the system.
Shergill said Friends of Medicare is trying to mobilize those communities and take their concerns to the government.
© Calgary Herald 2010
Tories back down on Alberta Hospital bed closings
Only geriatric patients will be relocated, top health official says
By Darcy Henton, edmontonjournal.comJanuary 19, 2010Comments (31)
Alberta Health Services has reconsidered its controversial plan to move 246 psychiatric patients out of Alberta Hospital Edmonton, saying more than half of them will stay for the time being.
Alberta Health Services CEO Stephen Duckett said Monday about 100 geriatric psychiatric patients will be transferred to Villa Caritas -- a new facility in West Edmonton -- later this year, but the rest will stay at the hospital pending development of a comprehensive, long-term provincial mental-health plan.
"We're first of all withdrawing our plans for any further relocation of patients, but we need to consider all of this in the context of a provincial strategy," Duckett said.
The plans changed after a panel appointed last fall by Premier Ed Stelmach began consulting patients, staff and psychiatrists who had complained they were left out of the loop.
Panel co-chairman Dennis Anderson said they came up with the idea of turning the Misericordia Hospital site into a geriatric mental health campus by converting Villa Caritas, a planned long-term care facility, into a treatment centre for geriatric psychiatric patients.
"We're most enthusiastic about the proposal," he said. The panel was appointed to oversee the process after initial plans to close beds and move patients into community care were greeted with outrage from patients, advocates, doctors and facility staff.
New Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky applauded the revised plan.
"I am very pleased with the recommendations that have come forward," he said. "I want to assure everyone that patient priorities for mental-health needs are also our provincial priorities."
Zwozdesky, sworn in as health minister last week, also stressed he plans to take a hands-on approach to health-care reforms.
"What I will be doing on behalf of the premier will be keeping a closer and more watchful eye as we go forward with these improvements."
Critics said the decision to shelve plans for the transfer of 146 acute and rehabilitation psychiatry beds was an admonishment of Duckett for plunging ahead without doing his homework.
Liberal health critic Kevin Taft said Duckett made a big mistake. "You are left wondering how they got the process so upside down. It's hard to see this as anything but a wrist slapping for Stephen Duckett. He leapt before he looked, and maybe next time he will look first."
Taft said the placement of a Tory MLA on the panel as a liaison to the premier makes one wonder if the idea to withdraw the original plan was a recommendation or a directive from Stelmach.
"As recommendations go, this is probably the kind of offer the Godfather made in the movie -- an offer you can't refuse," Taft said.
Duckett maintained it had always been Alberta Health Services' position that no patient was going to be moved before services were put in place in other facilities or in the community, but he said people didn't seem to believe that.
Duckett said health services will spend $3 million to $5 million to renovate the new $43.4-million facility, but the 150-bed facility with large private rooms is an improvement over the existing facility at the Alberta Hospital, where patients are housed four to a room.
Critics still contend there is no need to transfer geriatric psychiatric patients from the quiet, rural setting to an urban location, especially when it is being done at the expense of a needed long-term facility.
Guy Smith, president of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, said the partial victory is bittersweet.
"The plan to move geriatric psychiatry from Alberta Hospital takes much-needed long-term care beds out of the health system and will ultimately reduce the quality of mental-health services for seniors," said Smith, whose union represents many of the staff at Alberta Hospital.
"The patients' new home will be much more institutional than what they've been accustomed to at Alberta Hospital, with less freedom to move around and more isolation from their peers."
NDP Leader Brian Mason accused Stelmach of playing a shell game.
"He's cutting 150 long-term care beds out of the system, by switching them to suddenly become mentalhealth beds," he said.
"The solution is to build the 600 new long-term care beds that were promised, redevelop Alberta Hospital Edmonton and build better mental-health facilities across the province."
David Eggen, executive director of Friends of Medicare, said it was absurd of the government to think it could serve the needs of mentalhealth patients in the community.
"There isn't the capacity for the community to treat people and look after them and make sure the public is secure," he said.
Eggen urged Zwozdesky to fire Duckett, who was hired by his predecessor Ron Liepert, and start anew.
Alberta Hospital Review Panel
- Don Sieben, board member with Alberta Health Services, and Dennis Anderson, founder of the Alberta Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health, will serve as co-chairs.
- Fred Horne, MLA for Edmonton-Rutherford
- Sandra Harrison, Alberta’s mental health patient advocate
- Doug Knight, former president of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees
- Sharon Sutherland, a longtime mental health advocate
- Dr. Alberto Choy from Alberta Hospital Edmonton, who signed his name with 13 others on a letter of concern sent to Premier Ed Stelmach and Albertans
- June Clark, a registered nurse and director of Adult and Seniors Services for Addictions and Mental Health, part of Alberta Health Services
dhenton@thejournal.canwest.com
By Darcy Henton, edmontonjournal.comJanuary 19, 2010Comments (31)
Alberta Health Services has reconsidered its controversial plan to move 246 psychiatric patients out of Alberta Hospital Edmonton, saying more than half of them will stay for the time being.
Alberta Health Services CEO Stephen Duckett said Monday about 100 geriatric psychiatric patients will be transferred to Villa Caritas -- a new facility in West Edmonton -- later this year, but the rest will stay at the hospital pending development of a comprehensive, long-term provincial mental-health plan.
"We're first of all withdrawing our plans for any further relocation of patients, but we need to consider all of this in the context of a provincial strategy," Duckett said.
The plans changed after a panel appointed last fall by Premier Ed Stelmach began consulting patients, staff and psychiatrists who had complained they were left out of the loop.
Panel co-chairman Dennis Anderson said they came up with the idea of turning the Misericordia Hospital site into a geriatric mental health campus by converting Villa Caritas, a planned long-term care facility, into a treatment centre for geriatric psychiatric patients.
"We're most enthusiastic about the proposal," he said. The panel was appointed to oversee the process after initial plans to close beds and move patients into community care were greeted with outrage from patients, advocates, doctors and facility staff.
New Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky applauded the revised plan.
"I am very pleased with the recommendations that have come forward," he said. "I want to assure everyone that patient priorities for mental-health needs are also our provincial priorities."
Zwozdesky, sworn in as health minister last week, also stressed he plans to take a hands-on approach to health-care reforms.
"What I will be doing on behalf of the premier will be keeping a closer and more watchful eye as we go forward with these improvements."
Critics said the decision to shelve plans for the transfer of 146 acute and rehabilitation psychiatry beds was an admonishment of Duckett for plunging ahead without doing his homework.
Liberal health critic Kevin Taft said Duckett made a big mistake. "You are left wondering how they got the process so upside down. It's hard to see this as anything but a wrist slapping for Stephen Duckett. He leapt before he looked, and maybe next time he will look first."
Taft said the placement of a Tory MLA on the panel as a liaison to the premier makes one wonder if the idea to withdraw the original plan was a recommendation or a directive from Stelmach.
"As recommendations go, this is probably the kind of offer the Godfather made in the movie -- an offer you can't refuse," Taft said.
Duckett maintained it had always been Alberta Health Services' position that no patient was going to be moved before services were put in place in other facilities or in the community, but he said people didn't seem to believe that.
Duckett said health services will spend $3 million to $5 million to renovate the new $43.4-million facility, but the 150-bed facility with large private rooms is an improvement over the existing facility at the Alberta Hospital, where patients are housed four to a room.
Critics still contend there is no need to transfer geriatric psychiatric patients from the quiet, rural setting to an urban location, especially when it is being done at the expense of a needed long-term facility.
Guy Smith, president of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, said the partial victory is bittersweet.
"The plan to move geriatric psychiatry from Alberta Hospital takes much-needed long-term care beds out of the health system and will ultimately reduce the quality of mental-health services for seniors," said Smith, whose union represents many of the staff at Alberta Hospital.
"The patients' new home will be much more institutional than what they've been accustomed to at Alberta Hospital, with less freedom to move around and more isolation from their peers."
NDP Leader Brian Mason accused Stelmach of playing a shell game.
"He's cutting 150 long-term care beds out of the system, by switching them to suddenly become mentalhealth beds," he said.
"The solution is to build the 600 new long-term care beds that were promised, redevelop Alberta Hospital Edmonton and build better mental-health facilities across the province."
David Eggen, executive director of Friends of Medicare, said it was absurd of the government to think it could serve the needs of mentalhealth patients in the community.
"There isn't the capacity for the community to treat people and look after them and make sure the public is secure," he said.
Eggen urged Zwozdesky to fire Duckett, who was hired by his predecessor Ron Liepert, and start anew.
Alberta Hospital Review Panel
- Don Sieben, board member with Alberta Health Services, and Dennis Anderson, founder of the Alberta Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health, will serve as co-chairs.
- Fred Horne, MLA for Edmonton-Rutherford
- Sandra Harrison, Alberta’s mental health patient advocate
- Doug Knight, former president of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees
- Sharon Sutherland, a longtime mental health advocate
- Dr. Alberto Choy from Alberta Hospital Edmonton, who signed his name with 13 others on a letter of concern sent to Premier Ed Stelmach and Albertans
- June Clark, a registered nurse and director of Adult and Seniors Services for Addictions and Mental Health, part of Alberta Health Services
dhenton@thejournal.canwest.com
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Medicine Hat News
Local health advocates happy to see Liepert go
“No communication skills,” says critic of former Health Minister
Ken Gousseau
kgousseau@medicinehatnews.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Good riddance.
That was the reaction of local critics after controversial Alberta cabinet minister Ron Liepert was shuffled from the health file to energy this week.
In his short stint as health minister, Liepert introduced radical reforms to the province’s medical system that drew the ire of both health-care groups and the public.
“Liepert was pretty much a bully,” said Jan Bunney, chair of the local Friends of Medicare chapter. “It’s not sad to see him go, that’s for sure.”
But at the same time, Bunney says she doesn’t expect that Liepert’s successor, Gene Zwozdesky, will heal Alberta’s ailing health-care system.
“Shuffling the deck doesn’t change the overall game,” Bunney said. “It’s still the same people that are making the general policies.”
Among Liepert’s most hotly contested moves in Medicine Hat was the shelving of a long awaited expansion to the hospital.
“It should be interesting to find out what happens in the (next) budget,” said Carol Secondiak, a former Palliser Health Region board chair who spent years fighting for the hospital expansion.
Secondiak lost her job as board chair when Liepert consolidated the province’s nine health regions into a single superboard.
“I don’t think governing from afar is ever a good idea,” she said. “I think local input is necessary.”
As for Liepert’s ministerial style, Secondiak characterized it as “a bit dictatorial.”
“There were no communication skills there,” she said.
Medicine Hat Mayor Norm Boucher agreed that Liepert’s apparent lack of personal skills proved to be his Achilles heel as health minister.
“I always thought in politics that you have to be good with people,” Boucher said. “I haven’t seen that with him.”
However, he says Liepert could be effective in his new role as Alberta’s energy minister.
“He’s no nonsense in his approach and that’s how energy companies operate,” Boucher said.
Alberta’s high royalty rates are still a major issue for the oil and gas industry in Medicine Hat and across the province, Boucher noted.
The royalties have been eating into the city’s take from oil and natural gas production, effectively shrinking a major funding source in the community.
“(Liepert) is going to run into a lot of people (in the energy sector) who are more headstrong and more knowledgeable than he is,” Bunney said. “It will be interesting to see how he makes out there. How long he’ll last.”
“No communication skills,” says critic of former Health Minister
Ken Gousseau
kgousseau@medicinehatnews.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Good riddance.
That was the reaction of local critics after controversial Alberta cabinet minister Ron Liepert was shuffled from the health file to energy this week.
In his short stint as health minister, Liepert introduced radical reforms to the province’s medical system that drew the ire of both health-care groups and the public.
“Liepert was pretty much a bully,” said Jan Bunney, chair of the local Friends of Medicare chapter. “It’s not sad to see him go, that’s for sure.”
But at the same time, Bunney says she doesn’t expect that Liepert’s successor, Gene Zwozdesky, will heal Alberta’s ailing health-care system.
“Shuffling the deck doesn’t change the overall game,” Bunney said. “It’s still the same people that are making the general policies.”
Among Liepert’s most hotly contested moves in Medicine Hat was the shelving of a long awaited expansion to the hospital.
“It should be interesting to find out what happens in the (next) budget,” said Carol Secondiak, a former Palliser Health Region board chair who spent years fighting for the hospital expansion.
Secondiak lost her job as board chair when Liepert consolidated the province’s nine health regions into a single superboard.
“I don’t think governing from afar is ever a good idea,” she said. “I think local input is necessary.”
As for Liepert’s ministerial style, Secondiak characterized it as “a bit dictatorial.”
“There were no communication skills there,” she said.
Medicine Hat Mayor Norm Boucher agreed that Liepert’s apparent lack of personal skills proved to be his Achilles heel as health minister.
“I always thought in politics that you have to be good with people,” Boucher said. “I haven’t seen that with him.”
However, he says Liepert could be effective in his new role as Alberta’s energy minister.
“He’s no nonsense in his approach and that’s how energy companies operate,” Boucher said.
Alberta’s high royalty rates are still a major issue for the oil and gas industry in Medicine Hat and across the province, Boucher noted.
The royalties have been eating into the city’s take from oil and natural gas production, effectively shrinking a major funding source in the community.
“(Liepert) is going to run into a lot of people (in the energy sector) who are more headstrong and more knowledgeable than he is,” Bunney said. “It will be interesting to see how he makes out there. How long he’ll last.”
New minister wants health care 'family unit'
Last Updated: Thursday, January 14, 2010 | 6:44 PM MT Comments30Recommend29CBC News
Edmonton MLA Gene Zwozdesky will be sworn in as Alberta's new health minister Friday. (CBC)Alberta's new minister of health and wellness says his first priority after being sworn in Friday will be to build better relationships across the health-care system.
Gene Zwozdesky, speaking on CBC's Radio Active, said he's aware of the financial pressures on the system and wants to help health-care providers "work more as a family unit to address these kind of issues and give people the kind of hope that they should have."
Zwozdesky said he has already contacted medical groups like the Alberta Medical Association, the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and the United Nurses of Alberta.
"While I didn't ask for the position, I think the previous portfolios that I held back in 1999, 2000, 2001 as associate minister of health gives me a little bit of knowledge about the system," he said.
"I had the unique opportunity to work on the wellness side of the equation when Alberta Health was renamed Alberta Health and Wellness,' he said. "That's the proactive side, and I really hope we can start getting a bit more focused on that."
The group Friends of Medicare said Zwozdesky's first priority should be firing Stephen Duckett, CEO of Alberta Health Services, the government agency that oversees health care delivery in the province.
"Terminating Mr. Duckett's contract wouldn't be out of the question," said David Eggen, executive director of the group. "But at the very least, he needs to assert very clearly who is in charge and that's the Ministry of Health, not Alberta Health Services."
CEO under fire
Duckett, hired in March 2009, has come under fire for decisions — including a hiring freeze and the closing of beds at Alberta Hospital — aimed at trying to deal with the $1.1-billion deficit AHS is facing.
Eggen is optimistic that Zwozdesky can do a good job in the ministry, as is Heather Smith, president of the United Nurses of Alberta.
"I think there are a lot of really important issues facing not just the nursing workforce, but health care generally, and seniors and other groups," said Smith. "I'm hopeful that he will be a man that's open to dialogue and to follow-through."
Zwozdesky, the former aboriginal affairs minister, replaces the embattled Ron Liepert, known for his abrasive style, whom the Liberals attacked with a website calling for his removal. The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly later ordered the site removed.
Last Updated: Thursday, January 14, 2010 | 6:44 PM MT Comments30Recommend29CBC News
Edmonton MLA Gene Zwozdesky will be sworn in as Alberta's new health minister Friday. (CBC)Alberta's new minister of health and wellness says his first priority after being sworn in Friday will be to build better relationships across the health-care system.
Gene Zwozdesky, speaking on CBC's Radio Active, said he's aware of the financial pressures on the system and wants to help health-care providers "work more as a family unit to address these kind of issues and give people the kind of hope that they should have."
Zwozdesky said he has already contacted medical groups like the Alberta Medical Association, the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and the United Nurses of Alberta.
"While I didn't ask for the position, I think the previous portfolios that I held back in 1999, 2000, 2001 as associate minister of health gives me a little bit of knowledge about the system," he said.
"I had the unique opportunity to work on the wellness side of the equation when Alberta Health was renamed Alberta Health and Wellness,' he said. "That's the proactive side, and I really hope we can start getting a bit more focused on that."
The group Friends of Medicare said Zwozdesky's first priority should be firing Stephen Duckett, CEO of Alberta Health Services, the government agency that oversees health care delivery in the province.
"Terminating Mr. Duckett's contract wouldn't be out of the question," said David Eggen, executive director of the group. "But at the very least, he needs to assert very clearly who is in charge and that's the Ministry of Health, not Alberta Health Services."
CEO under fire
Duckett, hired in March 2009, has come under fire for decisions — including a hiring freeze and the closing of beds at Alberta Hospital — aimed at trying to deal with the $1.1-billion deficit AHS is facing.
Eggen is optimistic that Zwozdesky can do a good job in the ministry, as is Heather Smith, president of the United Nurses of Alberta.
"I think there are a lot of really important issues facing not just the nursing workforce, but health care generally, and seniors and other groups," said Smith. "I'm hopeful that he will be a man that's open to dialogue and to follow-through."
Zwozdesky, the former aboriginal affairs minister, replaces the embattled Ron Liepert, known for his abrasive style, whom the Liberals attacked with a website calling for his removal. The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly later ordered the site removed.
Coming to a town near you...
Anger rises over government cuts
Grassroots coalitions provincewide ignite a ‘firestorm of protest’
By Jodie Sinnema and Archie McLean, Edmonton JournalJanuary 16, 2010Comments (12)
StoryPhotos ( 1 )
Debbie Reid, a senior manager with Skills Society in Edmonton, is surrounded by bags of bottles that were collected to raise money for disabled adults. The mock bottle drive was staged to protest government cuts to social agendas.
Photograph by: Brian Gavriloff, edmontonjournal.comEDMONTON - A new coalition representing an unprecedented mix of people is launching a “firestorm of protest” to pressure the government to stop plans to cut $2 billion from the provincial budget.
“My sense is that a movement is building in the province,” said Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labour at the launch of a grassroots campaign that includes teachers, students, health-care workers, seniors, labour groups and those with developmental disabilities. “The political mood is shifting. More and more Albertans are starting to really look closely at the policies of this government and they’re starting to demonstrate a new willingness to speak out.”
Earlier this week, more than 500 people gathered at Riverbend United Church and publicly lashed their MLA, Education Minister Dave Hancock, for his government’s handling of the health portfolio.
Since then, the organizers of the Whitemud Citizens for Public Health have heard from people in Calgary, Vermilion, Peace River, Sherwood Park and the southwest community of Rutherford interested in forming similar groups to keep government accountable. A Facebook site is set to launch as early as this weekend and more functions are anticipated in the future.
On Thursday night, another 1,200 people showed up at McDougall United Church with bags and van-fulls of empty milk jugs and pop cans for a mock bottle drive in support of people with developmental disabilities. They, like their counterparts in Calgary who held a mock bake sale for cash, were protesting the government’s decision to take back more than $11 million from service agencies in the next few months.
The newest group — a coalition calling itself Join Together Alberta — has scheduled 22 town hall meetings across the province to allow people to voice their concerns over expected cuts to education, health and community programs from new Finance Minister Ted Morton.
“By choosing Ted Morton, (Premier Ed Stelmach is) sending a message — we think it’s a very clear and strong message — that the next provincial government will be a bad one and will be a budget that cuts deeply,” McGowan said, describing Morton as a politician who has staked out his political turf as a deficit hawk and critic of public spending.
Morton brushed aside the coalition’s concerns about his new appointment.
“I’ve been a bogeyman for many years, so it doesn’t bother me,” he said at the swearing-in ceremony for Stelmach’s new cabinet.
Morton said he is focused on “sustainability” and not leaving bills for the next generation to pay. He promised to balance the province’s books by 2012, but offered no clues as to how the province will trim $2 billion from this year’s budget, which will be tabled Feb. 9.
“Everybody is in it together. We’ll try to look after important priorities but there will be continued belt- tightening.”
Morton said the key to maintaining high levels of public services is increased revenue.
“Albertans have always subscribed to the theory of growing the pie, not fighting over dividing a static pie. That’s what the premier wants, that’s what I want and I think that’s what Albertans want.”
People want a chance to talk about the direction of government policy, said David Eggen, executive director of Friends of Medicare.
“It’s not just undefined anger anymore. People are looking for a place to park that reflects their values,” Eggen said. “Health and education, they’re not socialism, they’re called civilization.”
Heather Smith, president of the United Nurses of Alberta, said she’s never before seen this level of organized opposition to government policies, even during the devastating health cuts of the early 1990s and the mass rallies against health privatization in Bill 11.
“This is a much broader-based coalition than we had opposing Bill 37 (which addressed private health care), Bill 11, Third Way. It’s everybody,” Smith said.
“Will government respond? If you put enough pressure, if you turn up the heat enough, the government has to take the concerns of the public seriously. Ignore at your own peril.”
Smith said the government is probably already tired of hearing from groups such as the nurses, Public Interest Alberta or Friends of Medicare, but that doesn’t mean people should stop raising their voices.
Debbie Reid, a senior manager with Skills Society in Edmonton, said this groundswell of public protest is uniting groups often focused on advocating for one particular issue such as health, education or community care for the vulnerable.
Now, seniors in Edmonton are showing up for rallies in support of people in wheelchairs or with Down syndrome. Teachers’ groups are fighting for the health-care of their students.
Union leaders are holding campaigns to keep mental health beds in Alberta Hospital open.
People in Edmonton are also linking up with others in Calgary or rural areas to raise the volume.
“We’ve never seen people this angry, this disheartened and despairing,” said Reid of the 1,200 people who showed up at the bottle drive to support agencies that supply services to disabled adults. Those agencies have refused to find $11 million in savings as per government instructions.
“We’ve been asked to do the impossible and the immoral,” Reid said. “This is just the beginning of a long stand we’ll have to make.”
Grassroots coalitions provincewide ignite a ‘firestorm of protest’
By Jodie Sinnema and Archie McLean, Edmonton JournalJanuary 16, 2010Comments (12)
StoryPhotos ( 1 )
Debbie Reid, a senior manager with Skills Society in Edmonton, is surrounded by bags of bottles that were collected to raise money for disabled adults. The mock bottle drive was staged to protest government cuts to social agendas.
Photograph by: Brian Gavriloff, edmontonjournal.comEDMONTON - A new coalition representing an unprecedented mix of people is launching a “firestorm of protest” to pressure the government to stop plans to cut $2 billion from the provincial budget.
“My sense is that a movement is building in the province,” said Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labour at the launch of a grassroots campaign that includes teachers, students, health-care workers, seniors, labour groups and those with developmental disabilities. “The political mood is shifting. More and more Albertans are starting to really look closely at the policies of this government and they’re starting to demonstrate a new willingness to speak out.”
Earlier this week, more than 500 people gathered at Riverbend United Church and publicly lashed their MLA, Education Minister Dave Hancock, for his government’s handling of the health portfolio.
Since then, the organizers of the Whitemud Citizens for Public Health have heard from people in Calgary, Vermilion, Peace River, Sherwood Park and the southwest community of Rutherford interested in forming similar groups to keep government accountable. A Facebook site is set to launch as early as this weekend and more functions are anticipated in the future.
On Thursday night, another 1,200 people showed up at McDougall United Church with bags and van-fulls of empty milk jugs and pop cans for a mock bottle drive in support of people with developmental disabilities. They, like their counterparts in Calgary who held a mock bake sale for cash, were protesting the government’s decision to take back more than $11 million from service agencies in the next few months.
The newest group — a coalition calling itself Join Together Alberta — has scheduled 22 town hall meetings across the province to allow people to voice their concerns over expected cuts to education, health and community programs from new Finance Minister Ted Morton.
“By choosing Ted Morton, (Premier Ed Stelmach is) sending a message — we think it’s a very clear and strong message — that the next provincial government will be a bad one and will be a budget that cuts deeply,” McGowan said, describing Morton as a politician who has staked out his political turf as a deficit hawk and critic of public spending.
Morton brushed aside the coalition’s concerns about his new appointment.
“I’ve been a bogeyman for many years, so it doesn’t bother me,” he said at the swearing-in ceremony for Stelmach’s new cabinet.
Morton said he is focused on “sustainability” and not leaving bills for the next generation to pay. He promised to balance the province’s books by 2012, but offered no clues as to how the province will trim $2 billion from this year’s budget, which will be tabled Feb. 9.
“Everybody is in it together. We’ll try to look after important priorities but there will be continued belt- tightening.”
Morton said the key to maintaining high levels of public services is increased revenue.
“Albertans have always subscribed to the theory of growing the pie, not fighting over dividing a static pie. That’s what the premier wants, that’s what I want and I think that’s what Albertans want.”
People want a chance to talk about the direction of government policy, said David Eggen, executive director of Friends of Medicare.
“It’s not just undefined anger anymore. People are looking for a place to park that reflects their values,” Eggen said. “Health and education, they’re not socialism, they’re called civilization.”
Heather Smith, president of the United Nurses of Alberta, said she’s never before seen this level of organized opposition to government policies, even during the devastating health cuts of the early 1990s and the mass rallies against health privatization in Bill 11.
“This is a much broader-based coalition than we had opposing Bill 37 (which addressed private health care), Bill 11, Third Way. It’s everybody,” Smith said.
“Will government respond? If you put enough pressure, if you turn up the heat enough, the government has to take the concerns of the public seriously. Ignore at your own peril.”
Smith said the government is probably already tired of hearing from groups such as the nurses, Public Interest Alberta or Friends of Medicare, but that doesn’t mean people should stop raising their voices.
Debbie Reid, a senior manager with Skills Society in Edmonton, said this groundswell of public protest is uniting groups often focused on advocating for one particular issue such as health, education or community care for the vulnerable.
Now, seniors in Edmonton are showing up for rallies in support of people in wheelchairs or with Down syndrome. Teachers’ groups are fighting for the health-care of their students.
Union leaders are holding campaigns to keep mental health beds in Alberta Hospital open.
People in Edmonton are also linking up with others in Calgary or rural areas to raise the volume.
“We’ve never seen people this angry, this disheartened and despairing,” said Reid of the 1,200 people who showed up at the bottle drive to support agencies that supply services to disabled adults. Those agencies have refused to find $11 million in savings as per government instructions.
“We’ve been asked to do the impossible and the immoral,” Reid said. “This is just the beginning of a long stand we’ll have to make.”
Friday, January 15, 2010
Duckett can move to Energy with Liepert
New minister wants health care 'family unit'
Last Updated: Thursday, January 14, 2010 | 6:44 PM MT Comments26Recommend24CBC News
Edmonton MLA Gene Zwozdesky will be sworn in as Alberta's new health minister Friday. (CBC)Alberta's new minister of health and wellness says his first priority after being sworn in Friday will be to build better relationships across the health-care system.
Gene Zwozdesky, speaking on CBC's Radio Active, said he's aware of the financial pressures on the system and wants to help health-care providers "work more as a family unit to address these kind of issues and give people the kind of hope that they should have."
Zwozdesky said he has already contacted medical groups like the Alberta Medical Association, the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and the United Nurses of Alberta.
"While I didn't ask for the position, I think the previous portfolios that I held back in 1999, 2000, 2001 as associate minister of health gives me a little bit of knowledge about the system," he said.
"I had the unique opportunity to work on the wellness side of the equation when Alberta Health was renamed Alberta Health and Wellness,' he said. "That's the proactive side, and I really hope we can start getting a bit more focused on that."
The group Friends of Medicare said Zwozdesky's first priority should be firing Stephen Duckett, CEO of Alberta Health Services, the government agency that oversees health care delivery in the province.
"Terminating Mr. Duckett's contract wouldn't be out of the question," said David Eggen, executive director of the group. "But at the very least, he needs to assert very clearly who is in charge and that's the Ministry of Health, not Alberta Health Services."
CEO under fire
Duckett, hired in March 2009, has come under fire for decisions — including a hiring freeze and the closing of beds at Alberta Hospital — aimed at trying to deal with the $1.1-billion deficit AHS is facing.
Eggen is optimistic that Zwozdesky can do a good job in the ministry, as is Heather Smith, president of the United Nurses of Alberta.
"I think there are a lot of really important issues facing not just the nursing workforce, but health care generally, and seniors and other groups," said Smith. "I'm hopeful that he will be a man that's open to dialogue and to follow-through."
Zwozdesky, the former aboriginal affairs minister, replaces the embattled Ron Liepert, known for his abrasive style, whom the Liberals attacked with a website calling for his removal. The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly later ordered the site removed.
Last Updated: Thursday, January 14, 2010 | 6:44 PM MT Comments26Recommend24CBC News
Edmonton MLA Gene Zwozdesky will be sworn in as Alberta's new health minister Friday. (CBC)Alberta's new minister of health and wellness says his first priority after being sworn in Friday will be to build better relationships across the health-care system.
Gene Zwozdesky, speaking on CBC's Radio Active, said he's aware of the financial pressures on the system and wants to help health-care providers "work more as a family unit to address these kind of issues and give people the kind of hope that they should have."
Zwozdesky said he has already contacted medical groups like the Alberta Medical Association, the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and the United Nurses of Alberta.
"While I didn't ask for the position, I think the previous portfolios that I held back in 1999, 2000, 2001 as associate minister of health gives me a little bit of knowledge about the system," he said.
"I had the unique opportunity to work on the wellness side of the equation when Alberta Health was renamed Alberta Health and Wellness,' he said. "That's the proactive side, and I really hope we can start getting a bit more focused on that."
The group Friends of Medicare said Zwozdesky's first priority should be firing Stephen Duckett, CEO of Alberta Health Services, the government agency that oversees health care delivery in the province.
"Terminating Mr. Duckett's contract wouldn't be out of the question," said David Eggen, executive director of the group. "But at the very least, he needs to assert very clearly who is in charge and that's the Ministry of Health, not Alberta Health Services."
CEO under fire
Duckett, hired in March 2009, has come under fire for decisions — including a hiring freeze and the closing of beds at Alberta Hospital — aimed at trying to deal with the $1.1-billion deficit AHS is facing.
Eggen is optimistic that Zwozdesky can do a good job in the ministry, as is Heather Smith, president of the United Nurses of Alberta.
"I think there are a lot of really important issues facing not just the nursing workforce, but health care generally, and seniors and other groups," said Smith. "I'm hopeful that he will be a man that's open to dialogue and to follow-through."
Zwozdesky, the former aboriginal affairs minister, replaces the embattled Ron Liepert, known for his abrasive style, whom the Liberals attacked with a website calling for his removal. The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly later ordered the site removed.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Good Luck Mr. Zwozdesky!
The Canadian Press
Date: Wednesday Jan. 13, 2010 8:24 PM ET
EDMONTON — Premier Ed Stelmach is overhauling Alberta's 24-member cabinet in attempt to turn around his Progressive Conservative government's sagging popularity.
Fiscal hawk Ted Morton moves to finance, where the government has promised to cut $2 billion from the deficit in next month's budget.
Morton was instrumental in the now defunct Reform Party during its founding years and was once appointed as a policy director.
Former Liberal Gene Zwozdesky has been named Health minister, replacing the feisty Ron Liepert, who is going from one trouble spot to another as the new Energy minister.
Fred Lindsay was replaced by Frank Oberle as Solicitor General; Jack Hayden takes over Agriculture from George Groeneveld and Janice Tarchuk will hand over the Department of Children and Youth Services to Yvonne Fritz.
Edmonton's Thomas Lukaszuk is taking over the Employment Department, while Jonathan Denis, a rookie member from Calgary, gets the Housing portfolio.
The premier used a sports analogy Wednesday as he described the changes to his front bench.
"Putting together a cabinet is not about extremes," Stelmach told a news conference. "It's about putting the best athletes in the best positions."
Doug Horner becomes deputy minister and remains in Advanced Education, while Iris Evans moves from Finance to Intergovernmental Relations.
Mel Knight leaves energy to become minister of Sustainable Resource Development, Hector Goudreau takes Municipal Affairs, and Ray Danyluk moves to Infrastructure.
Len Webber is now minister of Aboriginal Relations.
Zwozdesky says one of his first jobs will be to let people know he's not focusing on privatizing public health care services.
"I'm here to protect a cherished health care system that exists under the Canada Health Act," he told reporters.
"My first priority is to deliver the top performing publicly funded health care system in the Dominion and that's what I'm going to do."
Liberal Opposition Leader David Swann described the new health minister as "a listener" who will be a welcome change from Liepert.
"I have confidence that he will listen both to the evidence and to the professionals in the system that have been good ideas on how it could be better," said Swann.
Swann also said appointing Morton as finance minister will steal some of the thunder from the right-wing Wildrose Alliance, which shares some of Morton's views on fiscal issues.
"We're going to see more fiscal conservatism from Mr. Morton," he said. "This is a clear indication that the Tory party is moving to the right."
NDP Leader Brian Mason says the premier again appears to be snubbing Calgary with his cabinet selections, including the choice of a deputy premier -- from the Edmonton area.
Wildrose Alliance Leader Danielle Smith says most Albertans will see this as only a minor change.
"A lot of these are the same faces as before, so I don't think there's going to be any real impact overall," Smith said in an interview.
"If you start moving the passengers around in a busted-up, broken-down van, it doesn't change the fact that the van is busted up and broken down."
Recent polls suggest Stelmach's Tories are facing a strong challenge from the upstart Wildrose Alliance, which recently gained two Conservative government defectors.
Liepert faced the brunt of growing discontent among Albertans over health changes and many critics had called for his resignation. Nearly 500 people packed a community meeting in Edmonton this week to voice their protests over cuts to health programs and beds.
But he said Wednesday he's proud of what he accomplished over the last two years as he helped launch "the most aggressive change in health-care delivery in the history of Alberta."
"We've just started the necessary changes in health care," he said. "We've laid the foundation and over the next year or two you're going to see what this health-care house is going to look like."
Travis Davies, spokesman for the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, said he's optimistic about Liepert.
The energy industry hopes to see some policy changes coming from a competitiveness review the government has been doing for the past year, said Davies.
"It is obviously extremely critical and the oil and gas industry is vital to the continued prosperity of Alberta," he said.
Morton's appointment is already sending shockwaves through the public sector unions.
"Morton as finance minister will undoubtedly mean deep cuts to Alberta's public service and needless job losses," said Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labour.
Friends of Medicare spokesman David Eggen said he hopes that Zwozdesky reverses some of the hospital bed closures that Liepert had previously announced.
"We have half as many hospital beds in this province as we did 15 years ago and the population has grown by at least 50 per cent and that just doesn't add up," said Eggen.
"People wait too long for hospital beds and access to a doctor."
In energy, Liepert will face a backlash from the oilpatch over changes to Alberta's royalty structure, which, coupled with falling oil and natural gas prices, has dried up energy-related investment and jobs in the province.
Stelmach said the new cabinet will help get Alberta out of the recession.
"I have promised Albertans that we will be back in the black in three years and I have not wavered from that commitment," said the premier.
"We are going to take the necessary steps to ensure we emerge from this economic downturn even stronger than before."
The spring sitting of the legislature begins Feb. 4 with a throne speech, with the budget to follow five days later.
Date: Wednesday Jan. 13, 2010 8:24 PM ET
EDMONTON — Premier Ed Stelmach is overhauling Alberta's 24-member cabinet in attempt to turn around his Progressive Conservative government's sagging popularity.
Fiscal hawk Ted Morton moves to finance, where the government has promised to cut $2 billion from the deficit in next month's budget.
Morton was instrumental in the now defunct Reform Party during its founding years and was once appointed as a policy director.
Former Liberal Gene Zwozdesky has been named Health minister, replacing the feisty Ron Liepert, who is going from one trouble spot to another as the new Energy minister.
Fred Lindsay was replaced by Frank Oberle as Solicitor General; Jack Hayden takes over Agriculture from George Groeneveld and Janice Tarchuk will hand over the Department of Children and Youth Services to Yvonne Fritz.
Edmonton's Thomas Lukaszuk is taking over the Employment Department, while Jonathan Denis, a rookie member from Calgary, gets the Housing portfolio.
The premier used a sports analogy Wednesday as he described the changes to his front bench.
"Putting together a cabinet is not about extremes," Stelmach told a news conference. "It's about putting the best athletes in the best positions."
Doug Horner becomes deputy minister and remains in Advanced Education, while Iris Evans moves from Finance to Intergovernmental Relations.
Mel Knight leaves energy to become minister of Sustainable Resource Development, Hector Goudreau takes Municipal Affairs, and Ray Danyluk moves to Infrastructure.
Len Webber is now minister of Aboriginal Relations.
Zwozdesky says one of his first jobs will be to let people know he's not focusing on privatizing public health care services.
"I'm here to protect a cherished health care system that exists under the Canada Health Act," he told reporters.
"My first priority is to deliver the top performing publicly funded health care system in the Dominion and that's what I'm going to do."
Liberal Opposition Leader David Swann described the new health minister as "a listener" who will be a welcome change from Liepert.
"I have confidence that he will listen both to the evidence and to the professionals in the system that have been good ideas on how it could be better," said Swann.
Swann also said appointing Morton as finance minister will steal some of the thunder from the right-wing Wildrose Alliance, which shares some of Morton's views on fiscal issues.
"We're going to see more fiscal conservatism from Mr. Morton," he said. "This is a clear indication that the Tory party is moving to the right."
NDP Leader Brian Mason says the premier again appears to be snubbing Calgary with his cabinet selections, including the choice of a deputy premier -- from the Edmonton area.
Wildrose Alliance Leader Danielle Smith says most Albertans will see this as only a minor change.
"A lot of these are the same faces as before, so I don't think there's going to be any real impact overall," Smith said in an interview.
"If you start moving the passengers around in a busted-up, broken-down van, it doesn't change the fact that the van is busted up and broken down."
Recent polls suggest Stelmach's Tories are facing a strong challenge from the upstart Wildrose Alliance, which recently gained two Conservative government defectors.
Liepert faced the brunt of growing discontent among Albertans over health changes and many critics had called for his resignation. Nearly 500 people packed a community meeting in Edmonton this week to voice their protests over cuts to health programs and beds.
But he said Wednesday he's proud of what he accomplished over the last two years as he helped launch "the most aggressive change in health-care delivery in the history of Alberta."
"We've just started the necessary changes in health care," he said. "We've laid the foundation and over the next year or two you're going to see what this health-care house is going to look like."
Travis Davies, spokesman for the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, said he's optimistic about Liepert.
The energy industry hopes to see some policy changes coming from a competitiveness review the government has been doing for the past year, said Davies.
"It is obviously extremely critical and the oil and gas industry is vital to the continued prosperity of Alberta," he said.
Morton's appointment is already sending shockwaves through the public sector unions.
"Morton as finance minister will undoubtedly mean deep cuts to Alberta's public service and needless job losses," said Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labour.
Friends of Medicare spokesman David Eggen said he hopes that Zwozdesky reverses some of the hospital bed closures that Liepert had previously announced.
"We have half as many hospital beds in this province as we did 15 years ago and the population has grown by at least 50 per cent and that just doesn't add up," said Eggen.
"People wait too long for hospital beds and access to a doctor."
In energy, Liepert will face a backlash from the oilpatch over changes to Alberta's royalty structure, which, coupled with falling oil and natural gas prices, has dried up energy-related investment and jobs in the province.
Stelmach said the new cabinet will help get Alberta out of the recession.
"I have promised Albertans that we will be back in the black in three years and I have not wavered from that commitment," said the premier.
"We are going to take the necessary steps to ensure we emerge from this economic downturn even stronger than before."
The spring sitting of the legislature begins Feb. 4 with a throne speech, with the budget to follow five days later.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
'The premier is in deep trouble,' Liberal leader says on eve of cabinet shuffle
Posted By FRANK LANDRY, QMI AGENCY
Posted 9 hours ago
Reaction was swift to word that Premier Ed Stelmach is expected to shuffle his cabinet deck as early as today, putting new faces in several high-profile portfolios, including health and energy.
It would come less than two weeks after a pair of his MLAs, Rob Anderson and Heather Forsyth, bailed for the surging Wildrose Alliance Party.
Liberal leader David Swann said Stelmach is under a "tremendous amount of pressure" to make some changes.
"This premier is in deep trouble," said Swann. "He's lost the confidence of most Albertans and it's very clear that he has to do some very dramatic things."
Stelmach is expected to postpone his trip to the Middle East and announce the new cabinet.
Two senior advisers to the government say Health Minister Ron Liepert will be moved into the energy portfolio, replacing Mel Knight, according to the Canadian
Press.
Liepert has been roundly criticized for planned hospital bed closures and other moves to reduce health-care costs.
Advanced Education Minister Doug Horner may be named health minister.
As part of the shuffle, Sustainable Resource Development Minister Ted Morton would replace Lloyd Snelgrove as Treasury Board President and Snelgrove would become minister of agriculture.
It's expected that several ministers will be shuffled out of cabinet because of their lacklustre performance, said a source, including Children and Youth Services Minister Janice Tarchuk.
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Tom Olsen, a spokesman for Stelmach, declined to comment.
But Swann said the changes would be welcome, particularly in health.
"This man (Liepert) has no knowledge of the health-care system," Swann said. "He has some knowledge of business, and tried to run our health-care system like General Motors, and the results have been disastrous."
David Eggen, executive director of Friends of Medicare, said Albertans are tired of the health cuts brought in while Liepert was at health's helm.
"Mr. Liepert was there to absorb public anger, but I think they underestimated just how angry people are," Eggen said.
Wildrose spokesman Shawn Howard, however, said the shakeup likely won't result in any major shift in direction.
"Albertans are clearly expressing their disapproval of the government and unless they change the vision behind their policies and really change direction, it's really not going to matter who gets moved into what cabinet position," he said.
Posted By FRANK LANDRY, QMI AGENCY
Posted 9 hours ago
Reaction was swift to word that Premier Ed Stelmach is expected to shuffle his cabinet deck as early as today, putting new faces in several high-profile portfolios, including health and energy.
It would come less than two weeks after a pair of his MLAs, Rob Anderson and Heather Forsyth, bailed for the surging Wildrose Alliance Party.
Liberal leader David Swann said Stelmach is under a "tremendous amount of pressure" to make some changes.
"This premier is in deep trouble," said Swann. "He's lost the confidence of most Albertans and it's very clear that he has to do some very dramatic things."
Stelmach is expected to postpone his trip to the Middle East and announce the new cabinet.
Two senior advisers to the government say Health Minister Ron Liepert will be moved into the energy portfolio, replacing Mel Knight, according to the Canadian
Press.
Liepert has been roundly criticized for planned hospital bed closures and other moves to reduce health-care costs.
Advanced Education Minister Doug Horner may be named health minister.
As part of the shuffle, Sustainable Resource Development Minister Ted Morton would replace Lloyd Snelgrove as Treasury Board President and Snelgrove would become minister of agriculture.
It's expected that several ministers will be shuffled out of cabinet because of their lacklustre performance, said a source, including Children and Youth Services Minister Janice Tarchuk.
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Tom Olsen, a spokesman for Stelmach, declined to comment.
But Swann said the changes would be welcome, particularly in health.
"This man (Liepert) has no knowledge of the health-care system," Swann said. "He has some knowledge of business, and tried to run our health-care system like General Motors, and the results have been disastrous."
David Eggen, executive director of Friends of Medicare, said Albertans are tired of the health cuts brought in while Liepert was at health's helm.
"Mr. Liepert was there to absorb public anger, but I think they underestimated just how angry people are," Eggen said.
Wildrose spokesman Shawn Howard, however, said the shakeup likely won't result in any major shift in direction.
"Albertans are clearly expressing their disapproval of the government and unless they change the vision behind their policies and really change direction, it's really not going to matter who gets moved into what cabinet position," he said.
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