UCP Introduces Private, For-Profit Hospitals

EDMONTON, Alberta--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A bill before the Alberta Legislature will, if passed, allow for the operation and funding of hospitals by private, for-profit entities.

Bill 55, The Health Statutes Amendment Act, lets the Health Minister turn hospitals over to private interests, and private operators and charge fees for services.

CUPE Alberta President Raj Uppal joined NDP MLAs and other health care union leaders at the Alberta Legislature to call on the United Conservative Party (UCP) government to scrap the bill.

“Danielle Smith needs to keep her election promise to stay away from private hospitals,” said Uppal. “Charging fees for health care is mean, and it does nothing to bring down our already high cost of living.”

Uppal said the quality of health care has “dropped off a cliff” under the UCP’s watch, adding that reorganization, scandals like corrupt care, and underfunding “have added multi levels of chaos” to the system.

“Alberta health care needs stable funding, and quiet, competent management, not American style private hospitals and extra fees.”

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