Alberta’s Physicians Know What Works. Let’s Trust Them To Lead.

Why Physician-Led Reform?

For generations, Alberta’s physicians have been the trusted stewards of medical care. Their expertise, education, and decision-making power are essential for delivering the quality care that patients rely on.

Today, physicians are ready to help the government reform Alberta’s health care. But we need a seat at the table and the trust to shape what comes next.

We understand that the health system is complex, and that’s why we’re looking to work with the government to make things better for patients and the system at large. We also want to share ideas and context with the public – patients and taxpayers – who have a right to understand how their health care system is working.

The Case for More Informed Reform.

Last year, the Alberta Government listened to physicians about stabilizing family medicine practices that were nearing collapse. The Primary Care Physician Compensation Model (PCPCM), developed in partnership with doctors, is already helping to stabilize these clinics that are the backbone of the health care system.

But our system is still in crisis – particularly in our hospital system and acute care. Wait times are too long and physicians cannot offer the care patients need and that they were trained to provide.

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Physician leadership delivers

Checks and balances on health care policy reforms

Smarter spending and resources allocated to where they’re needed most

Evidence instead of politics and decisions based on what actually works

Context to help the public understand what is needed

Real-world insight from the front lines of patient care

Critical Information and Informed Reforms To Improve Alberta Patient Care

Better health care starts with physician-led solutions. Here's what you should know. New topics added regularly.

Strengthening After-Hours Care in Alberta

Hospitals never close and most of the week (nights, weekends, and holidays) fall outside “regular” working hours.

There are fewer physicians and many pressures mean they may not be able or willing to work nights. ERs overflow. Wait times grow. Rural coverage collapses. And Alberta’s outdated payment model makes it worse, offering little support for overnight or community-based care.

Here’s the fix. Recognize physicians for providing after-hours care or that are available to return to hospital to provide services. For example, the Physician On Call Program (POCP) is meant to ensure doctors are available 24/7 — but it’s underfunded and out of step with other provinces.

Since 2019 pay cuts, the AMA has pushed for reforms to:

Increase payments for fees designed to encourage physicians to provide services outside regular hours
Keep us competitive: Align Alberta’s POCP rates with other provinces where rates are much higher
Restore pre-2019 rates, plus 3% for inflation
Fund 100 new programs, including under-supported areas like rural maternity and continuing care

In late 2024, the AMA proposed an added $38 million — on top of the existing $93 million — to expand POCP, reverse rate cuts, and help stabilize emergency coverage across Alberta. Because if Alberta doesn’t act:

ER bottlenecks will get worse
Patients will wait longer, or not get care at all
Doctors will burn out or leave for better-paying provinces

And that’s when patient access to medical care is becoming more difficult.

Unpredictable schedules
Long, unpaid hospital shifts where a doctor must be available, unpaid, in case of critically ill patients
Grueling overnight work
High-stakes cases and rising burnout in a shrinking pool of highly skilled physicians

Albertans deserve 24/7 access to life-saving care. That starts with making sure doctors are ready when you need them most, and paid fairly for it.

Artificial Intelligence. Real impact.

AI is already part of our health care system — even if you haven’t noticed yet.

Technologies like speech-to-text transcription, AI scribing, and decision support systems are already being used to enhance efficiency and accuracy in health care. Done right, it can:

Streamline clinic workflow
Reduce admin overload
Improve diagnosis and decision-making
Enhance your patient experience

Still, AI can feel abstract or intimidating. The AMA wants to help ensure that Alberta’s health care system adapts with care, caution, and clarity so physicians can lead with confidence and patients can benefit without fear. We’re working with partners across Canada — Infoway, CPSA, CMPA, and others — to:

Clarify what AI is (and isn’t)
Identify real benefits and real risks
Build smart, safe policy frameworks
Support physicians in using AI responsibly

AI isn’t here to replace doctors. It’s here to help support them. But trust and transparency are key. With the right support, it can help deliver better care, faster, for everyone. Learn more: https://www.albertadoctors.org/practice/artificial-intelligence/

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Health Care Isn’t Free. You fund it!

In Canada, health care is mostly paid for by taxes. Every Albertan chips in and that money funds hospitals, surgeries, doctors, ambulances, and more.

Here’s how you help fund it:

Income Taxes: You pay taxes to both the federal and provincial governments, and some of that money goes to health care. People with higher incomes pay more in taxes, helping fund the system.

Payroll Taxes (Canada Health Transfer): Money taken from your paycheck for things like retirement and unemployment also helps fund health care. Employers also pay part of this (and you may be an employer!)

Property Taxes: In some places, part of the property tax helps pay for local health care services like hospitals and clinics.

Substance Taxes: Taxes on things like tobacco and alcohol help pay for health programs to reduce smoking and drinking.

Estate or Inheritance Taxes: While Canada doesn’t have an inheritance tax, taxes on assets like property can help fund health care.

Sometimes, the government hires private or not-for-profit providers to deliver certain services. That’s fine if it improves access and value.

The system is complex and most people don’t know where their tax dollars actually go. There is always risk of waste or inefficiency and when government contracts publicly paid services out to be provided by private providers, the public should pay attention and should be asking:

What’s the price tag? Are we getting value for money, or overpaying for services?
How’s it performing? Are patients satisfied? Are wait times shorter?
Are private providers drawing staff or funding from the public system?

Contracting out occurs right across the system, including: addiction and mental health; continuing care; emergency medical services; midwifery services; allied health professions like physiotherapy; chartered surgical facilities and more. Albertans work hard and pay a lot into the system. If a service is tax-funded, it deserves public scrutiny. You have a right to know how that money is spent.

A transparent, accountable health system builds trust and makes sure care stays high-quality, fair, and available to all.

Is Your Doctor Paid in a Way That Supports Your Care?

In Alberta, most doctors are paid through Fee-for-Service (FFS) and get reimbursed for each visit. But with an aging population and more specialized care needs, FFS doesn’t always cut it.

Enter Alternative Relationship Plans (ARPs) which offer a set payment for a range of services. While FFS works well for most instances, ARPs may be better for managing certain types of patients such as those with chronic conditions or requiring highly specialized services that take more time.

Yet, Alberta has one of the lowest ARP adoption rates in Canada.

One reason is that most ARP rates haven’t been updated in 20 years. That leaves physicians underpaid, risking early retirements or migrations to other provinces with better compensation.

While other provinces are modernizing their payment models, Alberta risks falling behind if it doesn’t adjust its approach to physician compensation.

ARPs can promote provision of more comprehensive care by compensating doctors for the full spectrum of patient needs, not just individual visits. This is especially crucial for: