EDMONTON — The Alberta Medical Association is warning the provincial government not to make too many changes to the health care system too soon.
AMA president Dr. Noel Grisdale says rapid budget cuts could short-circuit the ability of the system to deliver health services.
In a letter to the Tory caucus, Grisdale says focusing too much on cutting staffing would reduce access to the health system and make it harder to recruit doctors, nurses, therapists and technicians.
On Tuesday, Alberta Health Services announced a $1.1 billion operating deficit.
Grisdale says the AMA supports making the system more efficient, but the government must consider the long-term implications of any changes it is planning.
He says if the government doesn’t handle cost-cutting properly it risks losing the support of patients and health care providers.