UCP leadership candidate Todd Loewen says health care is always an issue of concern with Albertans and he plans to completely restructure Alberta Health Services (AHS) to fix the problems in the province.."I’ve traveled across Alberta, and at each meeting it is always a top topic of concern. After 13 years of AHS, I think we can all agree that changes need to be made," Loewen said.."We were promised the formation of the centralized AHS system would reduce costs, increase efficiencies, and provide better care for Albertans. Clearly, that hasn’t happened.".According to Loewen, concerns about a lack of health care professionals ring out especially true in rural Alberta to the point emergency rooms are being closed for days at a time.."Many people wait months to get an appointment with their family doctors. Many families don’t even have a family doctor," Loewen said..He vowed to completely restructure AHS.."AHS in its current form has been failing Albertans for years. Compared to other jurisdictions, spending is near the top and results are near the bottom. Albertans deserve better," Loewen said.."Waiting years for surgeries, months for MRIs, and hours for ambulance service is unacceptable. A complete restructuring or dissolution of AHS is necessary in order to accomplish meaningful change.".According to Loewen, the centralized decision-making in AHS has failed to respond appropriately to local and regional needs.."Health care in rural and remote Alberta requires substantially different approaches than large urban areas," Loewen said.."These needs need to be respected and considered when making health care decisions. Regional/local decision making will help bring the needs of patients and health care to the forefront of decision making.".While Loewen's sights are set on AHS, he also says he will completely restructure the College of Physicians in Alberta.."The College of Physicians was delegated many powers from the Alberta government. These delegated responsibilities need to be reviewed," Loewen said.."There must be accountability and having a sole source that delivers these responsibilities can thwart accountability. Therefore, restructuring and review is in order."
