By The Canadian Press

Provincial auditor demands health care changes

May 26, 2017 | 6:56 AM

EDMONTON – Alberta’s auditor general is calling for immediate action to improve a health-care system he says is still falling short despite years of recommendations on how to make it better.

Merwan Saher says in a report that too many roadblocks continue to prevent the government and health providers from working together to give people the best quality of care possible.

He says putting more money into the system is not the answer.

The province already plans to spend $21.4 billion on health care this year — that’s almost 40 per cent of its entire budget.

Saher says the system is too fragmented, physicians and other care providers don’t work together enough and clinical information isn’t shared efficiently.

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He says health care needs to shift its focus to the long-term needs of patients and away from bureaucracy, the negotiating efforts of health providers or four-year election cycles.

People should have access to more information about their own health and treatment options and should be able to communicate with their care team.

The report is based on a review Saher began in 2015 into why so many recommendations made by his office on how to improve health care have not been acted on.

(The Canadian Press)