Alberta's Diagnostic Services Shift: Impact on Access and Costs
The Alberta government is moving forward with legislative changes that would allow residents to privately purchase diagnostic and preventative services, including MRIs, CT scans, full-body scans, and blood work, without requiring a doctor’s order. Premier Danielle Smith and Primary and Preventative Health Services Minister Adriana LaGrange state the initiative aims to boost accessibility, alleviate pressure on public resources, enhance early detection, and cut down wait times across the province.
Under the proposed new laws, if a privately funded test uncovers a significant or critical condition, the out-of-pocket expenses would be reimbursed, ensuring no Albertan ultimately pays for a medically necessary test. Physician-recommended tests will retain full coverage and prioritization in all healthcare facilities, whether public or private. The legislation also anticipates that supplemental health benefits plans will be able to cover these services.
However, critics voice substantial concerns about the potential for a "two-tier system" within healthcare. Dr. Paul Parks, president-elect of the Alberta Medical Association's section of emergency medicine, and Chris Gallaway, executive director of Friends of Medicare, argue this path could grant faster care to those with financial means, worsen wait times for publicly funded services, and divert skilled technologists from public hospitals to the private sector. They point to current disparities where private MRI access can be swift, measured in days, while public access often spans months or even years. Recent 2023 data indicated median wait times for a CT scan rose to 30 days and for an MRI to 60 days, prompting some Albertans to already seek private options. Critics also recall the province's previous attempt to privatize community lab testing, which reportedly led to extensive delays before services were eventually returned to public control at a cost exceeding $97 million.
For Calgary residents, who face a median wait time of 10.4 weeks for a non-urgent MRI at a local hospital, these proposed changes could significantly alter how they access diagnostic care. Calgary is home to numerous private diagnostic centres, which already offer MRIs and CT scans with much shorter wait times, sometimes within 24 to 48 hours, though at a cost. The new provincial framework is likely to further shape the landscape of private clinics in the city, potentially increasing their offerings and demand.
