Health policy

New legal structure of Alberta health system in place, Premier Smith now eyes results

4 agencies now run hospital care, continuing care, mental health and addiction, and primary health. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith speaks during an interview with the Canadian Press in Calgary on Dec. 11, 2025. Jeff McIntosh/The … READ MORE

Calgary emergency wards coping with ‘extreme overcapacity’ in flu season: AHS memo

Hospital leaders tighten admission policies as virus surge strains staff. According to a memo sent Friday to Calgary acute care doctors, issues connected to overcapacity in emergency rooms are ‘expected to worsen.’ CBC … READ MORE

This year’s flu is packing a punch. How hospitals are trying to deal with surging cases

Some jurisdictions are opening extra beds, others are asking health-care providers to work extra hours. Flu season is hitting children hard, sending a flood of young patients to hospitals. CHEO, eastern Ontario’s … READ MORE

Flu cases soar as Alberta health officials work to relieve pressure on hospitals

Province says hospitalization peak likely to hit in early to mid-January. The South Health Campus adult acute care hospital in Calgary. According to the province, as of Thursday there were 650 Albertans in hospital due to the flu. … READ MORE

How does Alberta’s COVID-19 vaccination rate compare to other provinces? We asked

Seven per cent of Albertans have had a COVID shot this season. CBC News reached out to other provinces to see how Alberta’s COVID vaccination rate compares. Robert Short/CBC Jennifer Lee, CBC News Calgary Dec 19, 2025 … READ MORE

COVID-19 cases, vaccine campaigns helped prompt mask mandate’s return, doctor says

Mask mandate comes into effect on Monday. Dr. Natalie Bridger, an infectious disease specialist with Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services, says the mask mandate is meant to prevent the spread of viruses. Mark Quinn/CBC Elizabeth … READ MORE

Flu blamed in deaths of 3 children in Ottawa area this month

Ottawa Public Health, Eastern Ontario Health Unit renew vaccination plea. CHEO, Ottawa’s children’s hospital, has seen a worrying spike in flu-related visits this season. Gabriel Le Marquand Perreault/Radio-Canada CBC News … READ MORE

Holiday precautions to spread cheer, not germs

Influenza cases rising across Canada. A doctor examines a patient with flu-like symptoms at Elmhurst Hospital in New York City in December 2003. Shannon Stapleton/Reuters Amina Zafar, CBC News Health Dec 10, 2025 Health officials are … READ MORE

Alberta emergency rooms hit with wave of influenza patients

AHS says extra beds added as hospitals face high demand around the province. Alberta Children’s Hospital is dealing with a wave of children sick with influenza. Alberta Health Services says hospitals around the province are … READ MORE

Children’s hospitals in Canada face flood of flu visits as doctors urge families to get vaccinated

High volumes put strain on limited pediatric hospital capacity, with flu season set to peak later this month. At CHEO, eastern Ontario’s children’s hospital in Ottawa, eight times more children tested positive for … READ MORE

Why Red Deer is seeing success in recruiting new doctors

Medical associations are calling for more uniform growth across the province. Dr. Adeola Adeyemo is a Red Deer physician. Nadeer Hashmi/CBC Nadeer Hashmi, CBC News Oct 18, 2025 Alberta’s push to recruit more doctors is beginning to … READ MORE

Doctors urge vaccination as influenza upswing hits Alberta

Flu positivity rates, hospitalizations rise amid concerns about mismatched variant. Alberta’s flu positivity rate more than tripled to 11.5 per cent during the second week of November, from 3.4 per cent two weeks earlier. David … READ MORE

Alberta premier sparks private health care worries with recent mandate letters

Ministers tasked with ushering in ‘new era of health care,’ Danielle Smith says. ‘This new era of care will deliver a modern health-care system Albertans can count on,’ Premier Danielle Smith said in a news … READ MORE

Canada could face ‘worst kind’ of flu season as experts warn evolving strain may be mismatch for vaccine

Alarm bells abroad, spread of a new form of H3N2 provide warnings as influenza cases start ticking up. A colourized transmission electron microscope image of the influenza A H3N2 virus from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and … READ MORE

UCalgary study offers new insight into physician shortage in Alberta

Researchers analyzed 16 years of data and reveal changes driving many of today’s challenges. Tima Miroshnichenko photo, Pexels Kelly Johnston, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary September 23, 2025 There is a growing … READ MORE

Alberta parents still struggling to book COVID shots for kids as doctors raise alarm about access

Alberta Medical Association estimates each COVID hospitalization costs the health system more than $34,000. Parents have to call Health Link to book COVID-19 vaccines for children under 12. But the health information line has been … READ MORE

COVID cases starting to climb across parts of Canada

Consistent end-of-summer trend has doctors recommending precautions like vaccination, staying home sick A bottle containing wastewater sits in a lab at the University of Guelph as part of surveillance for respiratory pathogens. … READ MORE

COVID-19 on the upswing as concerns about Alberta’s vaccine coverage linger

Alberta doctor says she’s seeing more cases in hospital in recent weeks Most Albertans will pay $100 for the COVID-19 vaccine this fall. The Alberta government has opted to provide it for free to a specific list of high-risk … READ MORE

Albertans wanted for new national survey on state of primary care

OurCare researchers look to gauge patient experience in each province, territory. OurCare is hoping to hear from more than 10,000 Canadians for a new national survey. This follows an earlier project during which researchers did not … READ MORE

Opinion: In Alberta’s grab for federal cash, Albertans with disabilities pay the price

Disability advocates, allies, and organizations gather in Edmonton outside the Alberta legislature for the Act NOW Rally on May 6, 2025, calling for urgent action on accessibility legislation, income support reform, and meaningful … READ MORE

Alberta health-care workers say they’re demoralized, exhausted as patient surge looms this fall

AHS warns of ‘further capacity challenges,’ saying it’s taking steps to ensure patients get ‘care they need’ Health-care workers are being warned to prepare for an influx of patients during the coming … READ MORE

Innovative primary care program blending virtual with in-person options connects locals to family physicians

Successful study highlights how integrated virtual care delivered primary care to rural and remote communities. Photo by Dominik Lange on Unsplash By Paul Logothetis, University of Ottawa April 18, 2024 An innovative health care … READ MORE

Analysis identifies areas for improvement in the overall health of Canada’s population

Study involving Western professor shows rate of improvement for burden of disease in Canada has plateaued since 2011. Researchers found the improvement in overall health of Canadians has stalled and is trending downwards compared to … READ MORE

The daunting child care challenges for kids with special needs

Finding high-quality, affordable child care can be especially difficult for parents of children with disabilities. File photo, John Kuntz, cleveland.com By Gretchen Cuda Kroen, cleveland.com January 3, 2024 Cleveland, Ohio — Finding … READ MORE

Ontario accessibility in ‘crisis,’ says report quietly released by Ford government

Advocates say province ‘squandered’ precious time acting on report’s recommendations. The Ontario government quietly released a review last week calling the current state of accessibility in the province a … READ MORE

Suffering in the shadows

Parents of medically complex children say life is a never-ending fight for help. Jordan Stead’s three-year-old daughter, Ebba, has a rare neurodevelopmental condition called CDKL5. Mark Cumby CBC. By Jessica Singer, CBC Newfoundland … READ MORE

Should you have a copy of your medical record? These experts say yes

Experts say patients will feel more informed, empowered in their care. Experts say patients should have a copy of their medical records, but they acknowledge there are still many barriers to getting this information into the hands of … READ MORE

Toddlers with developmental delays are missing out on help they need. It can hurt them long term

Alexander, 3, who is being treated for developmental delays, watches Paw Patrol as one of his dinosaur toys lays nearby in the living room of his West Chicago, Ill., home Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023. Alexander qualified for five Early … READ MORE

WHO launches first ever Patient Safety Rights Charter

WHO / Jacqueline Christensen. World Health Organization 18 April 2024 Today, WHO launched a Patient Safety Rights Charter at the Global Ministerial Summit on Patient Safety. It is the first Charter to outline patients’ rights in the … READ MORE

Long waits for hip and knee replacements persist in Canada

Wait times in Canada for procedures like hip and knee replacements were longer than 6 months at the beginning of the pandemic and in 2022, according to new data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). Healthcare … READ MORE

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