A debate is ongoing in Alberta regarding upcoming changes to the healthcare system. The Alberta Medical Association is urging the provincial government to implement strict safeguards before launching the dual practice model, which would allow physicians to work simultaneously in both the public and private sectors.
These changes are related to the Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 (No. 2). The bill received royal assent on December 11, 2025 and provides for the modernization of rules governing doctors’ participation in the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan. Among the changes are greater flexibility for doctors, as well as the ability for employers to offer employees access to private medical services through insurance plans.
The Alberta government explains that the dual practice model is intended to allow doctors to provide services in both the public system and in private settings. According to the province, this should increase choice for patients and help reduce wait times, while maintaining protections for publicly funded healthcare.
However, the Alberta Medical Association warns that such changes could pose serious risks if implemented without clear and binding rules. In a letter from AMA President Brian Wirzby, it is noted that any move toward dual practice must be carefully considered and safeguarded against potential harm. The key principle the association insists on is that access to necessary medical care should depend on the patient’s need, not on their ability to pay.
The AMA reported that its special task force has prepared a report with 70 proposed safeguards. These are intended to protect equitable access to medical care, patient safety, the stability of the workforce, accountability, and the integrity of public healthcare in Alberta.
Key Risks to the Public System
Among the key risks is the potential drain of medical staff from the public system to the private sector. If private clinics offer better conditions, more flexible schedules, or fewer night and weekend shifts, this could further weaken public hospitals, which are already facing staff shortages.
The Alberta government has previously stated that the dual practice model will be regulated. Potential restrictions include a requirement that surgeons perform a certain number or percentage of surgeries in the public system before being allowed to work privately. The province is also considering restricting certain specialties to public practice only if a shortage of specialists could harm public healthcare.
The province also states that family physicians will not be included in this model in the initial phase. Furthermore, surgeries for life-threatening conditions—including cancer treatment and emergency procedures—must remain fully publicly funded with no private alternative.
Why Doctors Insist on Safeguards
Despite this, the medical association insists: promises alone are not enough. The AMA wants the rules to be not only declared but also actually enforced. The association emphasizes the need for transparent monitoring, clear principles regarding conflicts of interest, oversight of resources, and guarantees that the private sector will not expand at the expense of the public system.
The main concern among doctors is that a poorly designed reform may not reduce wait times but, on the contrary, worsen access to care for those who cannot pay privately. That is why the AMA is calling on the government to base the reform on evidence, consultations with doctors, and patient protection.
What This Means for Albertans
For Albertans, this discussion has practical implications. If the dual practice model is implemented, some medical services may become available through private channels. But the key question is whether the province can maintain a strong public system where necessary medical care is provided based on need, not income level.
The AMA warns explicitly: if robust, evidence-based safeguards do not form the foundation of the new model, the consequences could be felt by both patients and Alberta’s entire public healthcare system.