What is the state of the Alberta Health Care System under the Klein Government at this time? If you were to ask public opinion, the reaction would be mixed - next to perplexion really. The Government of Alberta and its respective municipalities say adamantly that everything is fine - under control. yet we continue to be plagued with a growing sense of unease in the province.
So who is right and who is wrong? At this point it is really hard to say. No one has complete information as to the true state of the health care system in Alberta. There does not seem to be statistics on the state of health care in the province that truly satisfies everyone.
As for the question of right and wrong, is that really the question to be asked? Some say that someone has to be accountable for what obviously has become a political hot potato for Alberta. What is right or wrong perhaps should not be the political-social question, as much as what are the proper answers as to why there are even medical quality questions being raised.
Public viewpoints of the medical health care system for Alberta runs the gamut from that of satisfactory opinion, to indifference, to unfamiliarity, and ultimately, to total disgust and outrage.
The media, on the other hand, is replete with their own reports on public and private health care:
Well, accountability is not a foreign catch word by any means. To address the question of the Alberta Health Care System, though, accountability is synonymous with the word blame. In any political arena - government or medical - blame is a word most "officials of office" refuse to even consider.
Where does this leave the citizens of Alberta? The questions they have asked have seemingly been ignored or deflected with clever political speak or the public is shown government reports and statistics designed to convey the fact that people have nothing to feel uneasy towards. We ask where the Alberta Heritage Fund went and we are told we are living in a prosperous province. We demand to see where Lottery Funds are being distributed, but are told where they will be going. It could be said that all this is merely yet another fine example of centuries old political traditional rhetoric. In essence, "politics will always be politics".
The question still remains as to where that leaves the citizens of Alberta. For some, it means a confusing amount of red tape to get action and/or answers to their health care questions and/or needs. There are those who feel they are at a dead end in some instances - seemingly without anyone to turn to for help or support. Yet for others the Alberta Health Care System has become a political-medical focus - an entity that they feel is in dire need of extreme reform. Definately not the reform Ralph Klein and his Government wants, though.
Once again,though, the question remains - where does this leave the public of Alberta in terms of health care?
COMMUNICATION
The answer is a very simple one, and one that can be utilized by every citizen of the province of Alberta. Communication. Communication acquires methods of information and resources. Communication shares this knowledge with others. Communication applies to everyone - including government offices.
We often forget what the term public servant actually means in a democratic society. Perhaps it is time for every citizen of the Province of Alberta to remind the Government of Alberta and its respective municipalities, exactly what a "servant of the people" is.
Our complacency within society can only be accountable to ourselves - and as such, the results of complacency through the government we have elected into office - a government we hold in trust to run our society in its best interests. Complacency has no place when it comes to an entity that governs how we, as a society, are to live efficiently. Communication defeats complacency, and achieves our goals as an effective political body.
Communication also demands answers. Accountability in the light of public pressure becomes, at the least, a possibility when it comes to a democratic government. Change in the Alberta Care system - or any other political body - must rely on effective public communication - not only between members of the public as a whole, but between citizens and their government.
SUMMARY
The state of the Alberta Health Care system is an issue that must be addressed by the public if we is to acquire quality health care - the quality health care we once had which was envied by the world. Quality Health care is our public right under the Canadian Constitution and under The Human Rights Act.
Go here to see the Principles of the Canada Health Act.
A Personal Note
It is my hope to push you in a somewhat helpful direction towards resolving the discussed condition of the Alberta Health Care System. I would like to make you aware that I know there are those of you who feel alone against the medical and governmental bureaucracy. You are not alone. There are others who share your problems and fustrations. Please do not give up.
Dejay Koch
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