Alberta’s dual-practice health-care law takes effect amid debate over private surgery

Alberta’s controversial dual-practice health-care law took effect Tuesday, establishing the legal framework for specialist physicians to provide publicly funded care while also offering eligible surgeries to patients willing to pay privately. The model could cover procedures such as hip and knee replacements, cataract operations and certain gynecological, dermatological and ear, nose and throat surgeries. However, the change does not mean privately paid surgeries will begin immediately: the province must still complete its formal application and approval process, with the first procedures expected later this fall.

The Alberta government says nearly 400 specialist physicians submitted expressions of interest in the program over the summer. Participating doctors will be required to complete a minimum number of hours in the public system, upload private-care records to provincial databases and comply with monitoring and reporting requirements. Family physicians will generally be excluded, while emergency, urgent and life-threatening procedures—including cancer treatment—will remain entirely within the publicly funded system. The province has not yet finalized the precise public-service requirements that participating specialists must meet.

Premier Danielle Smith’s government argues the model will give patients more choice, reduce public waiting lists and allow Albertans who already travel elsewhere for private surgery to receive care closer to home. The Opposition NDP, medical associations and health-care unions contend it could instead draw physicians and operating-room capacity away from public patients, allowing wealthier Albertans to move ahead of others. United Nurses of Alberta organized demonstrations in several cities as the law took effect, while federal and provincial officials continue discussions about whether the program complies with the Canada Health Act.