What Calgary Needs to Know About Alberta's Healthcare Overhaul

Calgary’s healthcare landscape is bracing for significant changes following a major UCP announcement on October 22, 2025. The provincial government plans to allow Albertans to privately purchase elective diagnostic screening and testing services, a move that comes nearly two years after the broader restructuring of Alberta Health Services (AHS) was first unveiled in November 2023. This latest development is sparking fresh debate in a city accustomed to robust public health services and already grappling with healthcare workforce shortages.

The UCP’s proposal aims to reduce diagnostic imaging wait times, which reached 426 days for MRI scans in Calgary as of 2024-25, and attract new investment to increase capacity. Private MRI and CT scans in Calgary currently range from approximately $450 to over $1,400, depending on the service. While the government assures that physician-recommended tests will remain fully covered and out-of-pocket costs for medically necessary private tests will be reimbursed, the affordability of elective screenings is a concern for many Calgarian families.

The ongoing restructuring of AHS, initiated in November 2023, has seen the single health authority being broken into four new agencies focusing on acute care, primary care, long-term care, and mental health and addictions. This structural shift has been met with apprehension from healthcare workers and advocates, who cite concerns about its impact on patient care and wait times amidst existing resource challenges.

As Calgary continues to see an aging population and an increase in chronic conditions, the demand on the healthcare system is intensifying. These new privatization plans could reshape how Calgarians access crucial health services, prompting a vital community conversation about balancing faster access with equitable and affordable care. Your voice matters in this evolving discussion.