(Government of Alberta)

By rdnewsNOW staff

Provincial Politics

Province aiming to strengthen specialized health care in Alberta

Jun 3, 2025 | 4:16 PM

Alberta’s government says it is prioritizing emergency services, cancer care, and organ and tissue donation and transplantation in the province’s refocused health care system.

According to provincial officials, three specialized areas of care – cancer care, organ and tissue services, and emergency health services – are now under the purview of Acute Care Alberta through the creation of three new provincial health corporations. The government says these corporations became legal entities on June 1 and will be fully operational later this year. Officials say Acute Care Alberta will oversee integration of these programs across the health system, allowing Alberta Health Services (AHS) to focus on delivering hospital care.

“Cancer care, emergency services, and organ and tissue donation and transplantation are key to a high-functioning health care system,” says Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services. “By establishing these provincial health corporations, we are making sure that Albertans in need of these specialized services get the skilled and specific care they require.”

“These provincial health corporations will be dedicated to improving system outcomes, building workforce sustainability and providing specialized expertise,” adds Matt Jones, Minister of Hospital and Surgical Health Services. “Most importantly, they will focus on offering Albertans the very best care when they need it.”

“Acute Care Alberta will ensure Albertans in need of these crucial health care services receive dedicated care and experience a seamless patient journey throughout the province’s acute care system,” notes Dr. Chris Eagle, interim president and CEO, Acute Care Alberta.

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According to the government, Cancer Care Alberta will focus solely on providing timely, cutting-edge treatment and services for all Albertans with cancer. It will have enhanced oversight and responsibility for managing its workforce and capital and operational funding related to cancer care. Officials say Cancer Care Alberta will also establish a dedicated process to address complaints.

The province says Give Life Alberta will have oversight of all organ and tissue donation and transplantation in the province, including streamlining current processes, advancing organ and tissue donation and transplantation, as well as planning and developing programs for these crucial services. Officials say clinical services will remain with AHS.

Engaging with the emergency services community

According to the government, the new provincial health corporation for emergency health services will oversee all aspects of emergency care in Alberta. It is expected to focus on faster response times, workforce recruitment and retention, and better coordination of critical services to ensure timely care and efficient resource use across the province.

Transitioning emergency health services to a separate organization under Acute Care Alberta marks a fresh start, the province proclaims, allowing for more responsive decision-making, targeted workforce strategies and greater accountability to the minister of Hospital and Surgical Health Services, and Albertans. Alberta’s government says it is working with emergency health services staff and paramedics through a branding exercise to develop a new name and logo for emergency health services.

Throughout the refocusing work, the government says Albertans are accessing health care as they always have. According to provincial officials, there has been no impact to front-line health care workers and their continued dedication to delivering excellent health care to Albertans.