By Chris Brown

Contentious negotiations

Alberta Medical Association, province reach tentative deal for doctors

Feb 26, 2021 | 2:13 PM

The Alberta Medical Association and the province have reached a tentative agreement.

“I am pleased to arrive at this opportunity to return to a collaborative relationship between the physicians of Alberta and government,” said Dr. Paul Boucher, Alberta Medical Association president, in a release. “For many years, AMA agreements have been powerful tools toward improving quality care that brings high value to the system and to patients. They are not just about funding for physicians. They have addressed needs such as new models for delivering care, building the Medical Home in Alberta, strategies to improve quality of care for patients and more. This tentative agreement package has potential to continue that legacy.”

Health Minister Tyler Shandro says the agreement allows for fiscal sustainability into the future, while maintaining a strong focus on patient care and fairness and equity for physicians.

“I am pleased that both parties could move forward and work together in a spirit of cooperation that positions us positively for the future. We have learned a lot from each other during this process and are building toward a renewed relationship based on collaboration and trust. Alberta’s government looks forward to having a strong relationship with both the AMA and individual physicians, as they have a critical role in keeping Albertans healthy.”

Boucher said a special meeting of the AMA’s governing body, the Representative Forum (RF), will be held in the coming week via Zoom. The RF will consider the tentative agreement and provide advice to the board of directors.

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“On that advice, the AMA board will determine whether the agreement will proceed to a ratification vote by our approximately 11,000 members. We will be prepared to open voting immediately for a three-week period,” he said.

The tentative agreement was reached close to a year after the province ended its master agreement with doctors.

In response, some family doctors said they would leave the province or reduce services due to the financial strains caused by the ending of the agreement.