The True Post (Web News The provincial government of Alberta has announced a major investment of $809 million to improve surgical facilities,
aimed at increasing the availability of operating theaters, expanding the use of privately licensed surgical centers and modernizing hospital infrastructure. The first phase of the project is introducing a new patient-based funding system, which will modernize the health system.
Under this new model, hospitals will be funded directly based on the number of patients being treated and the complexity of their treatment. The aim is to introduce a system where resources follow the patient, rather than the traditional lump-sum funding, to improve access to treatment and reduce waiting times for surgeries.
According to the provincial government, this change is important for improving the quality of life of the public, as it will allow more people to receive timely surgery.
Chief Minister Daniel Smith said that behind every surgery there is a person who wants to return to their normal life, and the government is strengthening the health system for this purpose so that citizens can receive timely treatment.
In the initial phase, the project has been implemented in 12 hospitals, where a high number of surgeries are performed, such as knee and hip replacements, cataract surgery, and some shoulder surgeries.
According to officials, this model has already been tested in several countries around the world, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia and Norway. In these countries, it was implemented in phases so that the system could be improved over time. The project will also be gradually rolled out in Alberta to assess its impact.
The provincial health minister said that the aim of this system is to directly link resources to patient needs to improve both the speed and quality of treatment.
Additionally, $525 million will be spent over three years under the “Acute Care Action Plan,” enabling approximately 50,000 additional surgeries. In addition, $284 million under the Alberta Surgical Initiative will renovate operating theatres, purchase modern equipment, and improve surgical infrastructure.
According to officials, 332,847 surgeries were performed in Alberta last fiscal year, a record number, while a new record of 24,676 surgeries in a single month was set in March 2026.
