About 400 Alberta Doctors Interested in New Public-Private Dual Surgery Model, Province Says

Alberta’s government say nearly 400 specialist physicians have expressed interest in participating in the province’s new dual-practice surgery model, which allows doctors to provide private services while continuing to work in the public health system.

Alberta started asking doctors about their interest in the new model this past June, according to Maddison McKee, a spokesperson for Minister of Hospital and Surgical Health Services Adriana LaGrange.

“This will help us gauge interest, understand what specialists are contemplating dual practice and prepare for the formal application process,” McKee said in an Aug. 31 statement to media.

“Applications will be reviewed to ensure eligibility criteria and government requirements are met, including public surgery hour requirements, monitoring and new reporting requirements,” she added.

Alberta’s legislation enabling the new model took effect Sept. 1, although doctors must first complete an application and approval process. The province said the first privately funded surgeries are expected to be performed later this fall.

New System

Under the dual-practice system, approved specialist physicians will be allowed to perform certain privately funded procedures that are also available through the public system, including hip and knee replacements, gynecological procedures, some minimally invasive general surgeries, cataract procedures, and certain ear, nose and throat surgeries.

Emergency surgery including for cancer and other life-threatening health conditions will stay under the province’s publicly funded system.

Doctors approved for dual practice will have to meet government requirements for work in the public system, including minimum public surgery-hour requirements.

The new system will also require private medical records to be submitted to the provincial health record-keeping system.

The dual-practice model is only open to specialist physicians who perform eligible surgeries, although Alberta has said exceptions may be made for family doctors who also specialize in surgical assistance or anesthesia.

As of June 30, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta listed 14,156 fully registered physicians, up 1,226 from a year prior.

Approximately 550 of Alberta’s physicians specialize in surgery, including 272 orthopedic surgeons, according to the college.

The province says the dual-practice model will help attract and retain physicians, give patients more options for accessing care, and ensure those who remain in the public system continue to receive all medically necessary treatment.

The Alberta Medical Association, Canadian Medical Association (CMA) and Alberta NDP have criticized the dual-practice model, saying the new model could divert needed physicians away from the public health-care system and lead to longer wait times for patients who can’t afford private procedures.

Alberta NDP surgical services critic Sarah Hoffman has argued that the dual-practice model indicates the Alberta government is “more interested in privatization than strengthening public health care.”

“Albertans want shorter wait times and better access to care,” she added.

The CMA has also said the new model violates accessibility and universality requirements under the Canada Health Act.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has denied that the new model breaches the Canada Health Act, saying delivery of health-care services falls within provincial jurisdiction and legislation.

Canada’s federal Minister of Health Marjorie Michel, meanwhile, said she has been having “targeted discussions” with LaGrange about the new dual-practice model and its compliance with the federal medicare system.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.