Friends of Medicare is challenging the Alberta government’s plan to allow private purchase of diagnostic testing, calling the proposal a move toward American-style healthcare that will worsen wait times.

The advocacy organization says permitting Albertans to pay out of pocket for MRIs, CT scans and blood work will not reduce wait times as the government claims, according to a Friends of Medicare news release responding to Tuesday’s government announcement.

Chris Gallaway, executive director of Friends of Medicare, said the approach amounts to queue-jumping for those who can afford to pay.

“To think that permitting Albertans with unaddressed health needs and money to spare to access potentially unnecessary diagnostic tests will somehow reduce our wait times is completely ludicrous,” Gallaway said.

The organization points to previous privatization efforts as evidence the approach fails to deliver promised benefits. Alberta’s attempted privatization of community medical laboratories resulted in weeks-long waits for basic diagnostic work before being returned to public delivery at a cost exceeding $97 million.

Friends of Medicare argues existing privatization of diagnostic services like MRI and CT imaging has already contributed to current wait times by putting pressure on publicly delivered services.

A 2022 Auditor General report recommended improving diagnostic services by utilizing unused public capacity and organizing access more effectively. However, two successive UCP governments have ignored those recommendations while pursuing privatization instead, according to the organization.

Gallaway said the government should focus on addressing healthcare staffing shortages and ensuring family doctors are available to hundreds of thousands of Albertans who lack access to primary care.

“Albertans are already suffering without access to the preventative and diagnostic healthcare they need, as a result of an ongoing staffing crisis throughout our healthcare system,” he said.

The organization noted Alberta missed more than $13 million in federal health transfers under the Diagnostic Services Policy in 2023 and 2024 due to patient charges for medically necessary diagnostic services.

Friends of Medicare also raised concerns about recent allegations of corruption and interference in private healthcare contracts while the government continues expanding privatization efforts.

“We know that Alberta is already failing to ensure that patients aren’t being illegally billed for diagnostic services,” Gallaway said. “Even while government officials are being publicly accused of very serious allegations of corruption and interference in private healthcare contracts, they’re plowing ahead with further schemes to funnel more of our valuable public healthcare dollars into private profits.”

The organization argues Albertans deserve access to quality care based on medical need rather than ability to pay upfront.

Premier Danielle Smith announced Tuesday that Alberta will allow residents to privately purchase diagnostic services while maintaining public coverage for physician-recommended tests. The government said it will reimburse costs if privately purchased tests reveal serious conditions.