Canadian Doctors for Medicare Warns Albertans of Premier’s Plan to Undermine Public Health Care

Toronto, November 19, 2025 – Canadian Doctors for Medicare is extremely concerned about Premier Danielle Smith’s plan to enable physicians in Alberta to simultaneously work in both the public and private health care systems. Under proposed draft legislation obtained by the Globe and Mail, physicians working in “dual practice” would allow patients to pay privately for faster access to care. This will undermine access to publicly-funded health care and worsen wait times for the vast majority of Albertans.

Currently, every province except Ontario allows physicians to “opt-out” of the public system. Physicians who have opted-out can practice medicine and charge whatever price the market will bear for their services. Outside of Quebec, very few physicians engage in this practice because of the financial risk; not many patients are willing to pay privately for services that they could access free of charge through their public health care plans. Dual practice would enable physicians to mitigate that financial risk by charging patients privately if they are willing to pay while still relying on public payments for everyone else. Dual practice has not been permitted in Canada due to the negative impacts on access to care.

“Dual practice in Alberta would allow physicians to charge some patients privately for services while receiving government payments for other patients,” said Dr. Thara Kumar, a former Board Director of Canadian Doctors for Medicare and emergency physician in Red Deer. “If physicians can get paid more by individuals in the private sector than by the government in the public sector to provide the same care, then they will almost certainly choose to spend more of their time working privately. This will quickly create a two-tiered system that expedites care for those who pay privately, while increasing wait times for people who can’t afford to pay”.

There is no convincing evidence that private-pay health care reduces overall wait times. Australia and the United Kingdom saw unchanged or even increased wait times after introducing parallel private-pay. The Cambie Surgeries Corporation trial at the British Columbia Supreme Court reviewed evidence and testimonials over four years and ultimately concluded “there is clear evidence that wait times would not improve with the introduction of duplicative private health care”.

Canadian Doctors for Medicare offers an evidence-based summary of common myths about privately-financed health care: https://www.canadiandoctorsformedicare.ca/myth_privatization

“There are far better ways to improve our health care system,” said Dr. Bernard Ho, Vice Chair of Canadian Doctors for Medicare and emergency / family physician in Toronto. “Strong public investment, supporting primary care through multidisciplinary teams, and centralized referrals are all evidence-based ways to improve efficiency in health care and reduce wait times”.

Canadian Doctors for Medicare urges Premier Smith and the Government to Alberta to reconsider their plan for dual practice as it fundamentally harms the public system by drawing away physicians and worsening our already dire human resource deficits.  

“Premier Smith has assured Albertans that they will never need to pay out of pocket to get the care they need. But this proposal would suck physicians out of the public system, making it even harder for patients to be able to see their doctors without paying privately,” said Dr. Melanie Bechard, Chair of Canadian Doctors for Medicare and pediatric emergency physician based in Ottawa. “Frankly, while dual practice might be exciting for large private insurance corporations who aim to profit from private-pay care, it’s an absolute blow to patients”.

-30-

About Canadian Doctors for Medicare

Canadian Doctors for Medicare is a nationwide, evidence-based nonpartisan member organization dedicated to strengthening and preserving Canada’s publicly-funded health care system. We advocate for innovations in treatment and prevention services that are evidence-based and improve access, quality, equity, and sustainability. 

For more information, please contact:

Zareef Ahmad
National Director, Canadian Doctors for Medicare
[email protected]