Edmonton Journal

Legislature latest whistlestop for Friends of Medicare Government has no credibility 'to fix the mess that they themselves created'
By Jennifer Fong, Edmonton Journal March 27, 2011 StoryPhotos ( 1 )
Friends of Medicare rallied noisily at the legislature to demand an immediate public inquiry to investigate serious allegations about the function and management of the health-care system.Photograph by: Rick Macwilliam, The Journal, Edmonton JournalWhistles blew loudly Saturday at the Alberta legislature, where about 70 people gathered to call for a public inquiry into allegations of patient deaths and intimidation in the provincial health-care system.

"We need to know why our public health system has not kept pace with the needs of our population and we need to know if health-care staff were deterred from speaking out on this or any other issue that might compromise the health of patients," said David Eggen, executive director of Friends of Medicare, which hosted the rally.

"An independent inquiry is required so that we can clear the air and move on, and start building a better public system for all of us to share together."

His words were met by cheers and the blowing of red whistles, which were distributed to rally-goers upon arrival.

Last month, independent MLA Dr. Raj Sherman suggested in the legislature that doctors were paid millions to keep quiet about patients who died while waiting for surgery.

Weeks later, under growing pressure, the government announced a third-party review by the Health Quality Council of Alberta of cancer-care waiting lists and hundreds of cases of patients suffering or dying while waiting for care.

But Alberta's opposition parties say the review is not enough and have since been calling for a judicial public inquiry into the allegations.

A number of politicians attended the rally, including Alberta Liberal Leader Dr. David Swann, MLA Rachel Notley of the NDP, and the Alberta Party's Sue Huff.

"A public inquiry is important because it provides clarity, comprehensiveness and, I believe, constructive closure to what has been a very tumultuous time in our public-health system in this province," said Eggen.

Further to a review, he said, an inquiry can subpoena individuals to testify, protect witnesses, and order searches and seizures.

"A public inquiry has the tools to do the job right without interference from the ministry, from the premier or anyone else," he said. "This government, I believe, does not have either the moral authority nor the credibility to fix the health-care mess that they themselves created."

Many demonstrators came carrying flags and banners and wearing buttons bearing the words Public Inquiry Now! "I think we've heard too many lies so far, or nothing, which is even worse," said Pat Alexander, a former teacher who came from Stony Plain.

"I believe in a publicly funded system and an open system where we know exactly what's going on."

Patients, she said, are not getting the care they need soon enough.

"I've watched a few people go through the hospital setup. Once you're sick enough to be in there, you get in there, you're OK," she said.

"But it's the getting in."

Health care is an issue Alexander feels especially passionate about. "As I get older, I realize how much we're going to have to depend on it."

jfong@edmontonjournal.com

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