Alberta Health Minister Adriana LaGrange has taken control of contract negotiations for private surgical facilities (CSFs) following allegations of government interference and inflated prices. This move has raised concerns about transparency and accountability within the province's healthcare system.
Alberta's Health Minister Adriana LaGrange has significantly altered the governance of private surgical facilities (CSFs) in the province, stripping the Alberta Health Services ( AHS ) of its authority to negotiate contracts for these facilities. This decision stems from a series of allegations outlined in a letter sent by Athana Mentzelopoulos 's lawyer, Dan Scott, to AHS on January 20.
The letter alleges that government officials, including Premier Danielle Smith's former chief of staff, interfered in AHS's procurement process to favor private companies. Specifically, the letter accuses the government of pressuring Ms. Mentzelopoulos, the former AHS CEO, to extend a contract with Alberta Surgical Group Ltd. (ASG), a CSF firm in Edmonton, and to negotiate deals for new facilities in Red Deer and Lethbridge. Ms. Mentzelopoulos alleges that she refused to pursue deals she deemed too costly compared to similar agreements and that she raised concerns about the lack of transparency regarding the ownership of some CSFs. In a government directive dated October 18, obtained by The Globe and Mail, Ms. LaGrange declared CSFs a “critical component” of Alberta’s healthcare system and stated that her department intended to take a more active role in their management. This directive, issued during a broader government overhaul of the healthcare system, authorized Ms. LaGrange to directly oversee negotiations and discussions related to CSFs. Mr. Nickerson, Alberta Health's assistant deputy minister overseeing acute care, subsequently sent a letter to Ms. Mentzelopoulos in December, formally exercising the department's authority to lead negotiations and discussions on CSF contracts. He instructed AHS to cease any ongoing due diligence related to CSF procurements and to provide all relevant reports and data to the department. The terminated Ms. Mentzelopoulos's four-year contract on January 8, two days before she was scheduled to meet with the province's Auditor-General regarding her internal investigation into procurement practices at AHS. The allegations have sparked calls for independent investigations, prompting Ms. Smith to request the Auditor-General to expedite his review. AHS has also announced its own internal review of the matter
Alberta Health Private Surgical Facilities Contract Negotiations Government Interference Healthcare Overhaul AHS Athana Mentzelopoulos Danielle Smith
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Alberta government dismisses board of Alberta Health ServicesJust weeks after firing the head of Alberta Health Services, the Alberta government has dismissed the AHS board of directors and replaced it with the deputy minister of health.
Read more »
Alberta Launches Assisted Living Alberta, Latest Agency in Healthcare RestructuringThe Alberta government continues its push to restructure healthcare, announcing Assisted Living Alberta as the final agency to take over services from Alberta Health Services. The new agency will focus on continuing and assisted care, as well as home care, addressing the growing needs of Alberta's senior population. However, critics raise concerns about the government's approach, arguing that it prioritizes restructuring over solving existing issues in seniors' care.
Read more »
3rd-party advertiser Take Back Alberta fined more than $100K by Elections AlbertaTake Back Alberta, the third-party advertiser that made headlines for its role in the high-profile party-vote ouster of former premier Jason Kenney, has been fined more than $100,000 by Elections Alberta.
Read more »
Take Back Alberta founder plans to fight $112K in fines levied by Elections AlbertaThe body that oversees provincial election spending and voting rules has laid over $112,000 in fines against Take Back Alberta and its founder, David Parker, who plans to fight it.
Read more »
Minister says dozens of firefighters from Alberta and B.C. to deploy in CaliforniaOTTAWA — Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan says dozens of firefighters from Alberta and British Columbia will help fight wildfires in California, and the federal government is co-ordinating efforts with the provinces to deploy resources.
Read more »
Minister says dozens of firefighters from Alberta and B.C. to deploy in CaliforniaAlberta announced last week that it is sending up to 40 wildland firefighters. B.C.’s forests minister, has said a crew from the province’s wildfire service left for California on Saturday afternoon
Read more »