Ministry of Health (Alberta)

Alberta's Ministry of Health is a ministry of the Executive Council of Alberta whose major responsibilities include setting "policy and direction to achieve a sustainable and accountable health system to promote and protect the health of Albertans."[3]

Ministry of Health
Agency overview
FormedApril 19, 1919[1]: 283 
JurisdictionAlberta
HeadquartersEdmonton, Alberta
Annual budgetC$22,253,389 (March 31, 2019)[2]
Agency executives
  • Jason Copping, Minister of Health
  • Mike Ellis, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions
Websitehttps://www.alberta.ca/health.aspx
"Alberta Health" redirects here. The term may also refer to Alberta Health Services.

On April 16, 2019, Tyler Shandro replaced Sarah Hoffman as Minister of Health following the 2019 Alberta general election.[3]

The annual budget as of March 31, 2019, was C$22,253,389.[2]

The Edmonton, Alberta-headquartered Alberta Health Services (AHS), was established in 2008 as the "first province-wide, fully integrated health system" in Canada. The AHS delivers medical care on behalf of the Government of Alberta's Ministry of Health.[4] The AHS serves 4.3 million Albertans and has a staff of 125,000 staff and 10,000 physicians.[5]: 3 

History

The Department of Public Health was established on April 19, 1919 by the Department of Public Health Act,[6] to replace the Public Health Branch of the Department of Municipal Affairs.[1]: 283  In 1967, the name was changed to the Department of Health.[1]: 283  In 1971, during the premiership of Progressive Conservative Peter Lougheed who served as the premier from 1971 to 1985, the Department of Health was dissolved by the Department of Health and Social Development Act,[7] when the departments of Health and Social Development were merged to become the Department of Health and Social Development. In 1975, this department was renamed Social Services and Community Health.[1]: 283  And from 1975 to 1988 a separate Department of Hospitals and Medical Care also existed, separate from community health.[1] Between 1971 and 1988, the administration of most community health programs shifted to six regional offices.[1]: 283 

In 1988, during the Progressive Conservative premiership of Don Getty, the Department of Health was re-established in 1988, with a merger of the Department of Community and Occupational Health and the Department of Hospitals and Medical Care.[1]: 283  By 1988, the department no longer provided direct services; its role was to regulate, support, and supervise the "provision of services and programs through community-based organizations and board-governed institutions."[1]: 283 

During the tenure of Progressive Conservative Premier Ralph Klein, who served from 1992 to 2006 Alberta's healthcare system was redesigned.[1]: 283  With a focus on eliminating Alberta's deficit,[8] deep cuts were made in provincial health representing health spending per capita declining from C$1,393 in 1992 to $1,156 in 1995.[8] Under the 1994 Regional Health Authorities Act, 17 regional health authorities were created, replacing hundreds of local hospital boards, long-term care and public health services. At the same time, Klein established provincial health authorities for cancer, mental health and addiction services. Per capita spending on health was cut from CA $1,393 in 1992 to $1,156 in 1995.[8] By 1994, the health department's responsibilities "were limited to overall healthcare policy, providing direction to the healthcare system and regional health authorities, and setting standards for service providers."[1]: 283  The department was dissolved in 1999 and replaced by the Ministry of Health and Wellness.[1]: 283  Health services in Alberta had undergone several governance reorganization under Premier Klein, which had resulted in fewer separate public organizational entities, in 1996,[9][10] 2003,[11] and 2006.[12] The Ministry of Health and Wellness, which was established in 1999, replaced the Department of Health.[1]: 295  Under Progressive Conservative Premier Ed Stelmach, who served from December 2006 to October 2011, major reforms to Alberta's health-care system were introduced.

On May 15, 2008, then-Health Minister Ron Liepert, announced the creation of "Canada's first province-wide, fully integrated health system"—the Alberta Health Services (AHS)—as a quasi-independent agency of the Alberta government with a mandate to public health services throughout the province. The AHS brought "together 12 formerly separate health entities in the province including three geographically based health authorities, Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC), Alberta Mental Health Board and Alberta Cancer Board.[13] On April 1, 2009, through the Health Governance Transition Amendment Act, the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC), Alberta Mental Health Board and Alberta Cancer Board, were dissolved.[14]: 12–3 [15]: 44–49  As well, the Act consolidated the $13-billion-a-year system with its nine regional health authority boards— Aspen Health Region, Calgary Health Region, Capital Health Region, Chinook Health Region, David Thompson Health Region, East Central Health Region, Northern Lights Health Region, Palliser Health Region, and Peace Country Health Region into one provincial governance board, a public corporation.[16]

Since 2019

The August 2019 UCP mandated Blue Ribbon Panel on Alberta's Finances led by Janice MacKinnon—former Saskatchewan health minister—said rising health costs need to be addressed.[17] The panel reported that Alberta was getting comparatively "substandard outcomes for the money it pays."[18] Alberta spent $20.6 billion on health in 2019, which represents over 40% of the operating budget.[18]

Alberta Medical Association Master Agreement

Bill 21, which was passed in the fall of 2019 during the premiership of Jason Kenney, gave the Alberta government the right to unilaterally end the long-standing master agreement with the Alberta Medical Association (AMA) which ends on March 31, 2020.[19] When Health Minister, Tyler Shandro, terminated the agreement on March 30 and introduced a new fee structure, the AMA responded by filing a lawsuit on April 9 citing the unilateral termination of the master agreement with the Alberta government, the "government's conduct during negotiations", and Bill 21 as "some of the reasons for filing the claim".[20]

AHS review and recommendations

A December 31, 2019 performance review of Alberta Health Services by Ernst & Young—commissioned by the UCP government—made numerous recommendations to cut costs and increase efficiencies, and set an "aggressive" timeline of three years for implementation of a "massive overhaul" of Alberta's health-care system.[21][5] On February 3, 2020 Minister Shandro announced the reports findings. The 57 recommendations in the report are aimed at saving about $1.5 billion to $1.9 billion annually.[22] These included "performing more surgeries in private clinics and outsourcing services such as housekeeping and food."[22]

Ministry structure

Alberta's Ministry of Health includes "Health Services and Legislation", "Health Assessment and Grants", and Public Health. The ministry also has oversight of the Alberta Health Government Board, and other boards.

Chief officers and ministers
Main article: List of Alberta provincial ministers

The chief officers of the Department of Public Health from 1919 to 1967, include Alexander Grant MacKay (1919–1920), Charles Richmond Mitchell (1920–1921), Richard Gavin Reid (1921–1923), George Hoadley (1923–1935), Wallace Warren Cross (1935–1957), Joseph Donovan Ross (1957–1967).[1]: 291 

Ministers of Health from 1967 to 1971, include Joseph Donovan Ross (1967–1969), James Douglas Henderson (1969–1971).[1]: 291  Ministers of Health from 1988 to 1999 include Nancy J. Betkowski (1988–1992), Shirley McClellan (1992–1996), and Halvar Jonson (1996–1999).[1]: 291 

The Ministers of Health and Wellness from 1999 to 2012 include Halvar Jonson (1999–2000), Gary Mar ((June 2, 2000–November 25, 2004) and Iris Evans (November 25, 2004–December 15, 2006) under Premier Klein,[1]: 295  Ron Liepert (March 12, 2008–January 15, 2010) and Gene Zwozdesky (January 15, 2010–October 12, 2011), and Dave Hancock (December 15, 2006–March 12, 2008) under Stelmach, Fred Horne (October 12, 2011–May 8, 2012) under Premier Redford.[23] Stephen Mandel was Minister of Health and Seniors from September 15, 2014 to May 24, 2015 under PC Premier Prentice.

Ministers of Health from 2016 to present are Sarah Hoffman (February 2, 2016–April 30, 2019) in the cabinet of NDP Notley, and Tyler Shandro (2019- September 20, 2021), Jason Copping (September 21, 2021 - date) in the cabinets of Premier Jason Kenney[3] and Danielle Smith.

Main agencies: Alberta Health Services and Covenant Health
Main articles: Alberta Health Services and Covenant Health (Alberta)

The Edmonton, Alberta-headquartered Alberta Health Services (AHS) was established on May 15, 2008 as a quasi-independent agency of the Alberta government with a mandate to deliver public health services throughout Alberta.[13] The AHS, which is the "first province-wide, fully integrated health system", delivers medical care on behalf of the Government of Alberta's Ministry of Health.[4] According to the December 31, 2019 Ernst & Young AHS performance review, the AHS serves 4.3 Million Albertans and has a staff of 125,000 staff and 10,000 physicians.[5]: 3 

References
  1. An administrative history of the Government of Alberta, 1905-2005 (PDF) (1st ed.). Provincial Archives of Alberta. June 19, 2017. p. 567. ISBN 978-0778547143. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  2. "2018-2019 Annual Report" (PDF). open.alberta.ca. March 31, 2019. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  3. "Minister of Health". Government of Alberta. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  4. "Alberta Health". Alberta Health. Government of Alberta. Archived from the original on January 7, 2014. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  5. Alberta Health Services Performance Review Summary Report (PDF). Ernst & Young (Report). December 31, 2019. p. 101. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  6. "An Act respecting the Department of Public Health". April 19, 1919. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  7. "The Department of Health and Social Development Act". Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  8. "Explosive Change in Klein's Alberta, 1992–2000". Canadian Museum of Civilization. History of Canadian Medicare 1989–2007. 2007. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  9. Philippon, D. J. and S. A. Wasylyshyn (1996). Health-care reform in Alberta. Canadian Public Administration 39(1): 70-84.
  10. Reay, T. and C. R. Hinings (2005). The Recomposition of an Organizational Field: Health Care in Alberta. Organization Studies 26(3): 351-384.
  11. Hinings, C. R., A. Casebeer, et al. (2003). Regionalizing Healthcare in Alberta: Legislated Change, Uncertainty and Loose Coupling British Journal of Management 14:S1(December): S15-S30.
  12. Casebeer, A., T. Reay, et al. (2006). Experiences of Regionalization: Assessing Multiple Stakeholder Perspectives across Time. Healthcare Quarterly 9(2): 32-43.
  13. "Who We Are". Alberta Health Services. Alberta Health Services. Archived from the original on January 7, 2018. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  14. Liepert, RON (2009). Provincial health structure: Alberta (Report). Health Innovation Report. Archived from the original on January 24, 2010. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
  15. Philippon, D. (2009), Health care system reorganization: expectations, approaches and impact, Health Innovation Report
  16. Markusoff, Jason; McLean, Archie. "Tories create health superboard: Stelmach plan will see single body rule nine regions". Archived from the original on May 9, 2009. Retrieved June 12, 2008.
  17. MacKinnon, Janice (August 2019). Report and Recommendations: Blue Ribbon Panel on Alberta's Finances (PDF) (Report). p. 82. Retrieved November 1, 2019.
  18. Bennett, Dean (December 30, 2019). "'Significant changes': Alberta eyeing major reforms to health system in 2020". Calgary Herald. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  19. Bruch, Timm (February 20, 2020). "Province implements new framework for physician pay". CTV Calgary. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  20. Knight, Demi (April 9, 2020). "Alberta Medical Association files lawsuit against provincial government". Global News. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  21. Russell, Jennie; Rusnell, Charles (October 13, 2020). "Alberta Health Services to lay off up to 11,000 staff, mostly through outsourcing". CBC. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  22. Fieldberg, Alesia (February 3, 2020). "AHS review recommends up to $1.9B in annual cost-saving cuts". CTV Calgary. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  23. "Alison Redford remakes Alberta cabinet in major shuffle of ministers". National Post. December 7, 2013. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
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