Shandro to provide update on negotiations with Alberta doctors

EDMONTON (660 NEWS) – After months of tense relations, there could be a breakthrough in negotiations between the Kenney government and Alberta doctors.

Health Minister Tyler Shandro has scheduled a news conference Friday afternoon with the President of the Alberta Medical Association (AMA).

The province’s physicians have been at odds with the UCP government ever since changes were imposed to how they are compensated.

The ongoing dispute between the Health Minister and doctors resulted in the AMA voting 97 per cent in favour of non-confidence in Shandro.

RELATED‘A toxic situation’: Majority of Alberta doctors vote no-confidence in Health Minister

“Over the past year, Minister Shandro’s words and actions have created a chaotic state in our health care system and have alienated most of the people who are actually responsible for delivering care in Alberta,” said former President Dr. Christine Molnar following the vote.

“It’s a toxic situation and physicians have had enough.”

Last August the AMA released a document providing details on doctor compensation after Shandro suggested a “Sunshine List” to make those dollars transparent to the public.

The AMA called that move an act of intimidation.

The document stated that for most doctors’ offices, overhead costs such as rent and utilities can range between 40 to 50 per cent of their total annual billings. The average family doctor in Alberta makes roughly $200,000 before taxes in annual income despite billing the health care system around $340,000.

While many doctors have expressed frustration and have left Alberta for other provinces, Shandro insists more doctors are actually registering in Alberta than leaving.

Shandro and Dr. Paul Boucher with the AMA are set to speak about the negotiations at 1:30 p.m. and you can catch the news conference live on this website.

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