Advertisement

Wildrose to use more private care, out-of-province care to fix long health waits

Brian Jean speaks to supporters in Calgary on Tuesday, April 7th, 2015. Global News

EDMONTON — Alberta Wildrose Leader Brian Jean says he will use private clinics and send patients out of province and abroad, if needed, to improve key health care wait times.

Jean says a Wildrose government will institute wait time guarantees for five procedures, as the first step in fixing what he calls a broken system that over charges and under delivers.

The latest health and medical news emailed to you every Sunday.

READ MORE: Albertans to contribute directly to cost of health-care with new levy 

The program would cover knee and hip replacements, cataract surgery, radiation therapy and coronary artery bypass procedures.

He says if the current health system can’t meet the wait times, the government will rely on private clinics, with costs covered by government.

Patients who still can’t get timely care in the province will have the option to go to another province or the United States.

Story continues below advertisement

But Jean says no matter where a patient goes, the province won’t cover any costs beyond the equivalent cost of the procedure.

Sponsored content

AdChoices