News Release

ALBERTA NDP REVEALS THE TRUE COST OF DANIELLE SMITH’S PLAN
TO MAKE YOU PAY FOR HEALTHCARE

CALGARY – Irfan Sabir, Alberta NDP candidate for Calgary-Bhullar-McCall, revealed the true cost of what Albertans could expect to pay if Danielle Smith and the UCP privatize healthcare in Alberta. 
“Doctors, nurses, paramedics, parents, and Albertans across the province have been desperately begging the government to properly fund healthcare, and instead of listening to them, Danielle Smith wants to force Albertans into a ‘payment relationship’ with their doctors,” said Sabir. “The true costs of Danielle Smith and the UCP are frightening.”
Under Danielle Smith and the UCP, seniors would end up paying $6,700 to treat a serious bladder infection, $9,000 for a simple knee replacement, and $9,500 for a simple hip replacement. 
According to data from the Government of Alberta, the average cost of a hospital stay at the Alberta Children’s Hospital is $12,700, while at the Foothills Hospital it is $9,000, and at the Rockyview General Hospital it is approximately $8,000.
“When Albertans can’t afford to see a doctor, they only get sicker. Treatment that should be free and accessible to all Albertans will now cost them thousands of dollars,” said Sabir. “That is unacceptable and we cannot let that happen. ” 

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Media inquiriesMalissa Dunphy 403-816-2213   mdunphy@albertandp.ca 

BACKGROUND

The data listed below are sourced from the Canadian Institute for Health’s public tools, including the patient cost estimator, health facility data reports, and the Alberta Medical Association’s Fee Navigation database. 
High Volume EventsPediatric Hospital Stay for a Respiratory Infection$5,183Pediatric Simply Appendectomy$4,108Pediatric with an Asthma Attack Requiring a Hospital Stay$3,270Adolescent with a Depressive Episode Requiring a Hospital Stay$13,439Adolescent with Diabetes Requiring a Hospital Stay$4,360Adult Giving Birth with No Complications$4,205Senior with a Simple Knee Replacement$8,798Senior with a Simply Hip Replacement$9,541Senior (80+) with a Lower Urinary Tract Infection Requiring Hospitalization $6,773Senior (80+) with Dementia Requiring a Hospital Stay$19,258
Note: The above costs are directly cited as the listed cost-per-patient in the current public healthcare delivery model. As documented data shows, if the government were to privatize healthcare delivery, costs would undoubtedly increase. 

Canada Institute for Health Information: Patient Cost Estimator; https://www.cihi.ca/en/patient-cost-estimator; Canada Institute for Health Information: Facility Data in Depth; https://yourhealthsystem.cihi.ca/hsp/ 

Do private, for-profit clinics save taxpayers money and reduce wait times? The data says no;  https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/private-health-care-taxpayer-money-1.6777470