Calgary clinic charging membership fees runs contrary to Canada Health Act: Health Canada

[Spazito]

Health Canada says it has written to Alberta officials to inform them that the ability for patients "to purchase preferential access" at a Calgary clinic runs contrary to the Canada Health Act.

"We are working collaboratively with the province of Alberta to ensure the clinic's patients continue to receive medically necessary services free of patient charges," the government department wrote in an email.

On Monday, CBC News reported that a Calgary clinic had told its members that it would be moving to a membership model.

The pricing under that model, shared with CBC News, was listed as $4,800 per year for a two-parent family membership, covering two adults and their dependent children.

Other memberships included a $2,400-per-year membership that covers one adult and their dependent children, and $2,200 per year for an individual adult membership.

more

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/canada-health-act-jean-yves-duclos-alberta-marda-loop-1.6917091


Good! This kind of crap being pulled by this clinic is total bs and goes against everything the Health Act was put in place to do.

[3Hotdogs]

1. We have them in N.J. --- called Consierge medical care.

You pay a couple'a grand per year and get seen whenever you need.

[Spazito]

2. If you can afford them...

that's the problem, two-tiered health systems serve the rich, starve the poor.

[Bev54]

3. This is the type of thing being pushed by the Danielle Smith government.

She is crazy and dangerous.

[Bev54]

4. I actually had an appointment with my Dr. in Calgary today and she told me

that the government is keeping track of people's visits and because of a shortage of Dr's, if we do not see our Dr for a year, they could bump us out of the Dr.'s practise and insist they take another patient waiting for a family Dr. She stressed it was important that I have my annual checkups on time so that does not happen. I have decided I will see her for some other minor issue during the year as well, just in case I can't make my annual on time. What an actual pile of bullshit this government is pulling.

[Spazito]

5. Wow, that's ridiculous...

this is going to increase the health care costs overall without solving the actual problem. I shouldn't be surprised, this rightwing government is doing what I expected, trying to privatize everything.