Re: Alberta government all talk, no action on addressing health-care crisis, says Sundre doc
I consider health care to be the apex of humanities achievements. How we look after each other, whether it's our children, the old, or the sick, is vital to our societies well-being.
It was very well said in the article quoting Dr. Michelle Warren and her concerns of the inaction of the UCP government regarding the health-care crisis we are facing in this province.
It is well worth reading and among other things she points out that after two years since the new agreement was approved with the Alberta Medical Association no concrete steps have been taken by the government to alleviate the overburdened health-care system, especially in terms of retaining and recruiting our most valued possession, which is our health-care workers and our doctors.
Dr. Warren noted that at a recent medical conference in Banff, student residents trained in rural family medicine were pursued by out-of-province physician recruiters to lure them away from Alberta.
What struck her was that there was a "complete absence of any kind of representation from Alberta."
Meanwhile the statistics show that the majority of doctors are either considering plans to move to practise elsewhere (out of province) or retire early.
I don't believe the UCP government's plan to reshuffle Alberta Health Services will have any impact on the decisions of these doctors leaving or retiring.
Ironically, on the same page as the informative article finishes, the local MLA Devin Dreeshen advertises a town hall meeting to address topics like transportation and economic corridors, federal-provincial relations (fed bashing), the Alberta pension plan, and local issues. No mention is given to health care whatsoever in his agenda.
As Dr. Warren points out, the politicians are not listening to the medical association's concerns, but they do listen to voters.
Therefore, like her, I am encouraging, actually imploring you, to raise your concerns with your MLA and the premier.
It seems to me that there are only a few citizens that continually write to point out some of these vital issues, as I see the same writers quite frequently.
Seldom is there a groundswell of public opinion addressing these concerns, or a new voice calling out to the reader and those in power.
All my letters to the editor also go to my MLA, and the premier. I don't write this for my health, I write it for yours.
Alex Baradoy,
Red Deer County
