Alberta's premier decentralizes healthcare, sparking privatization debate

Alberta's premier announced plans to restore local decision-making to health facilities, sparking debate over the future of the province's healthcare system. This shift raises concerns about potential privatization and the impact on the healthcare budget. The premier's move involves decentralizing decision-making from Alberta Health Services to individual hospitals, alongside a shift to activity-based funding. Experts are divided, with some fearing this opens the door to private sector involvement, while others see potential for increased efficiency and innovation. The government maintains it has no plans to privatize hospitals, but critics point to past instances of privatization attempts and warn of the risks. The changes aim to improve patient care, but the details and potential consequences remain unclear.