Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's government has introduced new legislation that allows patients to pay for medical care directly or through personal insurance. This legislation, known as Bill 11, was tabled on November 24. While it may resemble private care, the province's medical system will remain heavily regulated and centrally controlled.

Under the new bill, patients will have the option to pay for medical services themselves. Additionally, doctors will be permitted to charge for services outside the public healthcare queue. The legislation also allows doctors and nurses to accept private payments in limited circumstances, but these transactions will be monitored by the government.

Critics of the plan, including advocacy groups like Friends of Medicare, argue that it resembles “American-style two-tiered health care.” The Canadian Medical Association has expressed concerns, stating, "evidence from around the world is clear: where a parallel private health system operates, both health outcomes and access to care are worse."

Despite these criticisms, some experts believe the potential impact of the proposal should be viewed with caution. Colleen Flood, dean of Queen’s University’s law school, previously predicted that the Supreme Court of Canada’s 2005 Chaoulli decision, which allowed private health insurance for essential services, would not significantly alter the healthcare landscape. Flood noted that many countries use indirect methods to protect their public systems, and Canada is no exception.

The current proposal aims to address long wait times and improve service availability. Smith's government is expanding healthcare services, which could reduce patient wait times. However, experts warn that simply increasing service availability under government terms may not lead to meaningful improvements in patient care.

Dr. Brian Day, in his new book, highlights the decline in operating hours for orthopedic surgeons from 17-22 hours per week in the 1980s and 1990s to just five hours today. He argues that Canada has significant untapped healthcare capacity that is currently rationed, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations.

The legislation raises questions about the effectiveness of government control over healthcare services. Critics argue that central planning does not increase the availability of goods and services. They suggest that if governments continue to dictate the terms of medical practice, it may lead to further challenges in meeting patient needs.

As the debate continues, the focus remains on whether this new legislation will lead to tangible improvements for patients in Alberta. Smith's government faces scrutiny from both sides of the political spectrum, and the effectiveness of the proposed changes will ultimately determine their impact on the province's healthcare system.