Health funding – Allocations for 2011–2012

Funding the health system

• Every hour, we spend $1.7 million – about $41 million per day – to maintain and improve Alberta’s health-care system.
• Funding for Health and Wellness is forecasted at $14.9 billion.
• Total Health and Wellness spending will account for over 38% of government’s total expenditures in 2011–12.
• Health care allocations are contained in the provincial government budget that is approved each year by the Alberta Legislature.

Alberta Health Services

• Alberta Health Services (AHS) will receive $9.6 billion in operating funding for the delivery of health services across the province.
• Approximately 65% of the Health and Wellness budget will be provided to AHS as operating funding.
• The remaining 4 years of the Government’s 5-year funding commitment to AHS will provide 6% increases in each of 2011–12 and 2012–13, and 4.5% increases in each of the final 2 years, 2013–14 and 2014–15, which will allow for:
  • long-range planning through predictable operating funding; and,
  • transparency and accountability through provincewide performance measures for AHS.

Health capital funding

• Capital funding for health facilities is in Alberta Infrastructure’s budget.
• $49 million has been allocated in the Capital Plan for capital grants to AHS for health information systems and equipment.
• The Capital Plan also includes $71 million for the purchase of vaccines and internal systems development.

Physician compensation and development

$3.3 billion has been allocated for physician compensation and development which includes physician payments as well as programs that support the addition of more physicians to the system.

Drugs and supplemental health benefits

$1.0 billion has been allocated for prescription drugs, ambulance services and other health benefits for Albertans. Included are cancer therapy drugs and specialized high cost drugs.

Other health services

• $841 million has been allocated for programs including services provided by health professionals, such as oral surgeons, optometrists and podiatrists, as well as vaccination programs, tissue and blood services, continuing care initiatives and health services in correctional facilities.
• $4 million has been allocated for the implementation of the Sexually Transmitted Infection and Blood Borne Pathogens Strategy.
• $2 million has been allocated to implement the Alberta Injury Control Strategy.

Sources of health funding

Of every dollar in health funding:

• 84 cents come from Alberta’s general revenues;
• 15 cents come from federal transfer payments; and
• 1 cent comes from the Alberta Cancer Prevention Legacy Fund and other revenues.

Figures as of Nov. 21, 2011