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For immediate release, Tuesday, January 11, 2005.
Premier’s plan more like a third try than a “third way” say nurses
Nurses were very surprised to hear the Premier re-launch his old ideas about implementing Mazankowski and turning more of the public health system over to for-profit business in his speech in Calgary.
“This isn’t so much a “Third Way” as it is a third try at privatization,” says UNA Vice President Bev Dick. “But Premier Klein has absolutely no mandate from voters to make any significant changes. He refused to talk about his plans during the election and promised he would only make changes if there was a consensus. Now he’s saying it’s time to get on with it.”
The Premier’s announcement includes many references to positive changes like the electronic health records and the telephone Health Link system. At the same time he has been very coy about exactly what he means by innovation and continues to use two of his favourite buzzwords, competition and choice.
“Clearly the Premier is backing away from high profile change in the health system and wants to let the health regions do it by privatizing bits and pieces gradually,” Bev Dick said. “Contracting out surgeries to the for-profit hospital in Calgary is clearly an example of this, as is the privatization of primary health care services.”
Nurses believe that the speech shows the Premier is still determined to turn more of the health system into a profit-centre for private health corporations.
In his public statements he still talks about fiscal responsibility in health care “even if it costs more”. And that’s exactly what has happened, as he admitted himself about the surgeries contracted to the private Calgary hospital -- it costs more. Albertans should be very worried about what costs would be if our public system is broken apart and sold off to many for-profit businesses.
“Nurses know the universal public system is the best health policy for all Albertans,” Bev Dick said. “We are concerned the directions the Premier announced today will endanger that security for all of us.”
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For more information or comment: Bev Dick 780 425-1025 or cell: 940-9975
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