Alberta Audit Highlights Why Canada Needs Hybrid Health Care Reform
A recent Alberta government audit has reignited the national conversation about health care reform in Canada. The review of 13 Alberta medical clinics charging membership fees found no significant evidence of patients being billed for publicly insured treatments — but it did find that patients paying for memberships are receiving more thorough and comprehensive care.
This clearly shows that a hybrid model of health care is more beneficial for people’s health than the “everyone suffers equally” model we currently have in place in Canada. Under our current system, access is often defined by scarcity — not efficiency — and Canadians face some of the longest wait times in the developed world.
What the Audit Found:
- Membership clinic physicians saw substantially fewer patients than public clinics (232 new patients per physician vs. 965).
- Members appeared to receive longer, more comprehensive appointments than non-members.
- Three clinics provided primarily virtual services, and one required payment to access an online platform delivering both insured and uninsured services.
- Four clinics provided both insured and uninsured services exclusively to members.
While there was no evidence of direct violations of the Canada Health Act (CHA), the audit raised questions about preferential access to care and the blurred lines between insured and uninsured services.
Why This Matters for Reform
The Canada Health Act, created decades ago, was built on noble principles — but today it often translates into uniform delays and declining access. Health care reform is desperately needed to address the deteriorating health of Canadians and modernize a system that is increasingly broken.
Countries with hybrid models — such as many in Europe — manage to maintain universal access while allowing private delivery options that reduce bottlenecks, shorten wait times, and improve patient satisfaction. A Canadian version of this approach could:
- Maintain universal coverage for medically necessary services.
- Allow faster access to care for those willing to pay for additional services — without undermining public care.
- Encourage innovation and efficiency through competition.
Bottom Line:
The Alberta audit doesn’t just reveal operational details about membership clinics — it highlights a truth many Canadians already feel: the current “one-size-fits-all” approach is failing patients. If we want healthier Canadians, we must be willing to reform the CHA and embrace a balanced hybrid model.
Orleans Family Health Clinic — committed to delivering timely, patient-centred care in our community.
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