Large increases in physician compensation over the years has brought forth policy changes by the UCP Government.

RJ Sigurdson, MLA for the Highwood Constituency, says these changes were imperative to ensure sustainability within the health care system.

"In the last three years, the health care overall budget has increased 1.2 billion dollars to now 5.4 billion. This is not sustainable. The reality is that kind of increase would be the most damaging thing that could happen to our health care system," he said.

Sigurdson adds that even with these changes, 644 new doctors registered to practice in Alberta last year. With the 382 that de-registered, it's still a net increase of 262 physicians in the province.

He says it hasn't been an easy process, however, it is very necessary, and hasn't stopped physicians from coming to Alberta.

"It's been an uncomfortable process. People are connected to their physicians, we understand that. Every year, physicians leave and come into the province. During the last four years, the Alberta physician supply grew by 11.8 percent," said Sigurdson.

Sigurdson adds the large increases over the last years are not sustainable going forward.

CIHI data for 2019 indicates Alberta spends the most in the country on physicians per capita, and in most recent years, spending has risen twice as fast as the number of doctors.

 

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