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By rdnewsNOW staff

Primary Care

Alberta government investing $42 million into health care

Nov 5, 2024 | 10:33 AM

The Alberta government is making moves to advance primary care in the province.

On Tuesday they announced the public will benefit from a $42-million investment to bring in more health providers and expand essential services.

This includes increasing access to primary care for Albertans by implementing recommendations from the Modernizing Alberta’s Primary Health Care System (MAPS).

The most recent MAPS report shined a light on the need to improve team-based care. The funds will be used to boost access to that type of care in rural areas, attract more health care workers to those areas, and expand integrated support services for vulnerable Albertans.

“These grants are another way we are strengthening primary health care across the province so more Albertans will have timely access to the care they need,” said Minister of Health, Adriana LaGrange.

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$12 million will be invested over two years into a Rural Team Recruitment Grant and a Municipality Supported Clinics Grant to improve team-based primary health care. Each will receive $6 million over two years.

The Rural Team Recruitment Grant will help community organizations and clinics hire non-physician staff members to increase capacity in their clinics.

The Municipality Supported Clinics Grant aims to help rural municipalities or regions in enhancing team-based care by supporting the operations of existing primary care clinics.

“These grants are wonderful news for rural Alberta. They will support municipalities so they can improve primary care for their residents and will draw more primary care providers to rural communities across the province,” said Martin Long, parliamentary secretary for rural health.

In addition, $30 million will be invested by the Alberta government over two years to expand services at four community health centres including The Alex Community Health Centre, CUPS Calgary Society, the Jasper Place Wellness Centre, and Radius Community Health & Healing.

The funds will support expanded services including primary health care for Indigenous and marginalized groups, a walk in clinic, outreach services, and term-based care.

The centres will also expand support services such as housing navigation, recovery support and food access programs.

“This funding connects primary care providers and multidisciplinary teams to vulnerable Calgarians, allowing The Alex to significantly scale up wraparound services and deliver accessible, team-based care that improves health outcomes for at-risk individuals,” said Joy Bowen-Eyre, chief executive officer, The Alex Community Health Centre.