Ministry of Health (Alberta)
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Ministry of Health (Alberta) is a ministry of the Executive Council of
Alberta Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...
. Its major responsibilities include setting "policy and direction to achieve a sustainable and accountable health system to promote and protect the health of Albertans." On April 16, 2019,
Tyler Shandro Tyler Shandro (born ) is a Canadian politician who has served as the minister of justice and solicitor general of Alberta since February 25, 2022. A member of the United Conservative Party (UCP), Shandro was elected to represent Calgary-Acadia i ...
replaced
Sarah Hoffman Sarah Marjorie Hoffman (born May 23, 1980) is a Canadian politician who served as the 10th deputy premier of Alberta and minister of Health in the cabinet of Rachel Notley. Hoffman was previously a member of the Edmonton Public School Board, w ...
as Minister of Health following the
2019 Alberta general election The 2019 Alberta general election was held on April 16, 2019, to elect 87 members to the 30th Alberta Legislature. In its first general election contest, the Jason Kenney-led United Conservative Party (UCP) won 54.88% of the popular vote and 63 ...
. The annual budget as of March 31, 2019, was C$22,253,389. The
Edmonton Edmonton ( ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta. Edmonton is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Alberta's central region. The city ancho ...
,
Alberta Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...
-headquartered
Alberta Health Services Alberta Health Services (AHS) which is headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta is the single health authority for the Canadian province of Alberta and the "largest integrated provincial health care system" in Canada. AHS delivers medical care on beh ...
(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 The government of Alberta (french: gouvernement de l'Alberta) is the body responsible for the administration of the Canadian province of Alberta. As a constitutional monarchy, the Crown—represented in the province by the lieutenant governor—is ...
's Ministry of Health. The AHS serves 4.3 million Albertans and has a staff of 125,000 staff and 10,000 physicians.


History

The Department of Public Health was established on April 19, 1919 by the ''Department of Public Health Ac''t, to replace the Public Health Branch of the Department of Municipal Affairs. In 1967, the name was changed to the Department of Health. In 1971, during the premiership of Progressive Conservative
Peter Lougheed Edgar Peter Lougheed ( ; July 26, 1928 – September 13, 2012) was a Canadian lawyer and Progressive Conservative politician who served as the tenth premier of Alberta from 1971 to 1985, presiding over a period of reform and economic growth. Bo ...
who served as the premier from 1971 to 1985, the Department of Health was dissolved by the ''Department of Health and Social Development Act'', 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. And from 1975 to 1988 a separate Department of Hospitals and Medical Care also existed, separate from community health. Between 1971 and 1988, the administration of most community health programs shifted to six regional offices. In 1988, during the Progressive Conservative premiership of
Don Getty Donald Ross Getty (August 30, 1933 – February 26, 2016) was a Canadian politician who served as the 11th premier of Alberta between 1985 and 1992. A member of the Progressive Conservatives, he served as Energy Minister and Federal and Intergo ...
, 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. 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." During the tenure of Progressive Conservative Premier
Ralph Klein Ralph Philip Klein (November 1, 1942 – March 29, 2013) was a Canadian politician and journalist who served as the 12th premier of Alberta and leader of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta from 1992 until his retirement in 20 ...
, who served from 1992 to 2006 Alberta's healthcare system was redesigned. With a focus on eliminating Alberta's deficit, deep cuts were made in provincial health representing health spending per capita declining from C$1,393 in 1992 to $1,156 in 1995. 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. 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." The department was dissolved in 1999 and replaced by the Ministry of Health and Wellness. Health services in Alberta had undergone several governance reorganization under Premier Klein, which had resulted in fewer separate public organizational entities, in 1996, 2003, and 2006. The Ministry of Health and Wellness, which was established in 1999, replaced the Department of Health. Under Progressive Conservative Premier
Ed Stelmach Edward Michael Stelmach (; born May 11, 1951) is a Canadian politician and served as the 13th premier of Alberta, from 2006 to 2011. The grandson of Ukrainian immigrants, Stelmach was born and raised on a farm near Lamont and fluently speaks ...
, 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 Ronald Liepert (born October 8, 1949) is a Canadian politician who serves as the Member of Parliament for Calgary Signal Hill in the House of Commons of Canada. He previously served in the Cabinet of Alberta as Minister of Finance, Energy, Heal ...
, announced the creation of "Canada's first province-wide, fully integrated health system"—the
Alberta Health Services Alberta Health Services (AHS) which is headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta is the single health authority for the Canadian province of Alberta and the "largest integrated provincial health care system" in Canada. AHS delivers medical care on beh ...
(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. 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. 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.


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. The panel reported that Alberta was getting comparatively "substandard outcomes for the money it pays." Alberta spent $20.6 billion on health in 2019, which represents over 40% of the operating budget.


Alberta Medical Association Master Agreement

Bill 21, which was passed in the fall of 2019 during the
premiership of Jason Kenney The premiership of Jason Kenney spanned from April 2019 until October 2022, when Jason Kenney and his cabinet were sworn in by Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, Lois Mitchell. Kenney was invited to form the 30th Alberta Legislature and became ...
, gave the Alberta government the right to unilaterally end the long-standing master agreement with the
Alberta Medical Association The Alberta Medical Association (AMA) is a provincial affiliate of the Canadian Medical Association, established in 1889 in the Canadian province of Alberta. It describes itself as an "advocate for its physician members, providing leadership a ...
(AMA) which ends on March 31, 2020. When Health Minister,
Tyler Shandro Tyler Shandro (born ) is a Canadian politician who has served as the minister of justice and solicitor general of Alberta since February 25, 2022. A member of the United Conservative Party (UCP), Shandro was elected to represent Calgary-Acadia i ...
, 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".


AHS review and recommendations

A December 31, 2019 performance review of Alberta Health Services by
Ernst & Young Ernst & Young Global Limited, trade name EY, is a multinational professional services partnership headquartered in London, England. EY is one of the largest professional services networks in the world. Along with Deloitte, KPMG and Pricewat ...
—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. 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. These included "performing more surgeries in private clinics and outsourcing services such as housekeeping and food."


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

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). Ministers of Health from 1967 to 1971, include
Joseph Donovan Ross Dr. Joseph Donovan Ross (March 13, 1911 – May 22, 1984) was a medical doctor and politician from Alberta, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1952 to 1971. He also served as Minister of Health in the Alberta provinci ...
(1967–1969), James Douglas Henderson (1969–1971). Ministers of Health from 1988 to 1999 include Nancy J. Betkowski (1988–1992),
Shirley McClellan Shirley McClellan (born 22 January 1942) is a Canadian politician who was a long serving member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for 20 years. She served as Deputy Premier. Early life McClellan was born in Hanna, Alberta, Canada, on Ja ...
(1992–1996), and
Halvar Jonson Halvar de la Cluyse Jonson (August 14, 1941 – December 2, 2016) was a teacher and high school principal. He was also a long serving provincial politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta an ...
(1996–1999). The Ministers of Health and Wellness from 1999 to 2012 include
Halvar Jonson Halvar de la Cluyse Jonson (August 14, 1941 – December 2, 2016) was a teacher and high school principal. He was also a long serving provincial politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta an ...
(1999–2000), Gary Mar ((June 2, 2000–November 25, 2004) and
Iris Evans Iris Sylvia Evans (born December 31, 1941) is a former Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta and Minister of International and Intergovernmental Relations for the Canadian province. From November 25, 2004 to December 15, 2006 she served ...
(November 25, 2004–December 15, 2006) under Premier Klein,
Ron Liepert Ronald Liepert (born October 8, 1949) is a Canadian politician who serves as the Member of Parliament for Calgary Signal Hill in the House of Commons of Canada. He previously served in the Cabinet of Alberta as Minister of Finance, Energy, Heal ...
(March 12, 2008–January 15, 2010) and
Gene Zwozdesky Eugene Zwozdesky, (July 24, 1948 – January 6, 2019) was a Canadian politician in the province of Alberta. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1993 to 2015, and was the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly from 2012 to 2015. E ...
(January 15, 2010–October 12, 2011), and
Dave Hancock David Graeme Hancock (born August 10, 1955) is a Canadian lawyer and was the 15th premier of Alberta in 2014. Since 2017, he has served as a judge of the Provincial Court of Alberta. From 1997 to 2014, he was a Member of the Legislative As ...
(December 15, 2006–March 12, 2008) under Stelmach,
Fred Horne Frederick Thomas Horne (born August 25, 1961) is a Canadian retired politician and former Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for the constituency of Edmonton-Rutherford as a Progressive Conservative. Early life Horne, a former de ...
(October 12, 2011–May 8, 2012) under Premier Redford. 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 Sarah Marjorie Hoffman (born May 23, 1980) is a Canadian politician who served as the 10th deputy premier of Alberta and minister of Health in the cabinet of Rachel Notley. Hoffman was previously a member of the Edmonton Public School Board, w ...
(February 2, 2016–April 30, 2019) in the cabinet of NDP Notley, and
Tyler Shandro Tyler Shandro (born ) is a Canadian politician who has served as the minister of justice and solicitor general of Alberta since February 25, 2022. A member of the United Conservative Party (UCP), Shandro was elected to represent Calgary-Acadia i ...
(2019- September 20, 2021),
Jason Copping Jason Copping is a Canadian politician who has served as the minister of health for Alberta since September 21, 2021. Elected in the 2019 Alberta general election to represent the electoral district of Calgary-Varsity, Copping is a member of th ...
(September 21, 2021 - date) in the cabinets of Premier
Jason Kenney Jason Thomas Kenney (born May 30, 1968) is a Canadian former politician who served as the 18th premier of Alberta from 2019 until 2022 and the leader of the United Conservative Party (UCP) from 2017 until 2022. He also served as the member of ...
and Danielle Smith.


Main agencies: Alberta Health Services and Covenant Health

The
Edmonton Edmonton ( ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta. Edmonton is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Alberta's central region. The city ancho ...
,
Alberta Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...
-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. The AHS, which is the "first province-wide, fully integrated health system", delivers medical care on behalf of the
Government of Alberta The government of Alberta (french: gouvernement de l'Alberta) is the body responsible for the administration of the Canadian province of Alberta. As a constitutional monarchy, the Crown—represented in the province by the lieutenant governor—is ...
's Ministry of Health. According to the December 31, 2019
Ernst & Young Ernst & Young Global Limited, trade name EY, is a multinational professional services partnership headquartered in London, England. EY is one of the largest professional services networks in the world. Along with Deloitte, KPMG and Pricewat ...
AHS performance review, the AHS serves 4.3 Million Albertans and has a staff of 125,000 staff and 10,000 physicians.


References


External links


Alberta Ministry of Health
- Ministry website
Government of Alberta
- Municipal Affairs {{ABGovDept
Health Health, according to the World Health Organization, is "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity".World Health Organization. (2006)''Constitution of the World Health Organiza ...
Alberta Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...
1919 establishments in Alberta