Past initiatives – Our years of progress

Much time and effort has been invested into improving our health care system and finding better ways to care for people and keeping them healthy. There have been many achievements that have led us to where we are today.

Note: Items marked with "NR" are news releases.

2011

• Action on Wellness International Symposium

2010

• Action on Wellness Forum
• Children and youth initiatives

2009

On September 1, 2009, the Minister's Advisory Committee on Health looked at how to improve Alberta's legislation so that it better supports improvements to Alberta's publicly funded health care system.

• Read more on MACH
• Advisory committee to focus on improving patient care and health system performance – NR: September 1, 2009

Alberta Telehealth was transitioned from Health and Wellness to Alberta Health Services in 2009.

• Read more on Telehealth

2008

• Vision 2020
• 2008 Health Plan
• Alberta Pharmaceutical Strategy
• Government moving ambulance services under Alberta’s health system – NR: May 29, 2008
• One provincial board to govern Alberta’s health system – NR: May 15, 2008
  • Read Ministerial Orders

2007

• Provincewide smoking ban in public places, workplaces approved – NR: November 14, 2007
  • Read more on the Tobacco Reduction Act
• Technology brings health care specialists closer to home – NR: February 13, 2007

2006

• Health Minister to participate in the Reforming State's Groups western regional meetings – NR: November 4, 2006
• Read the Health Quality Council of Alberta's Satisfaction with Health Care Services: A Survey of Albertans 2006 – October 2006
• New programs promote better health for children and youth – NR: September 28, 2006
• Report gives historical look at the health status of Albertans – NR: July 18, 2006
• New law makes Alberta an international leader in the fight against cancer; establishes $500 million prevention fund – NR: June 27, 2006
• Alberta Ombudsman now able to review patient concerns – NR: June 15, 2006
• Evans to learn new innovative approaches from Swiss and Swedish health systems – NR: June 1, 2006
  • Read the reports from the study tour of Switzerland and Sweden
• Health Quality Council established as a provincial health authority – NR: June 1, 2006
  • Visit the Health Quality Council of Alberta website
• New regulation to grant prescribing power to pharmacists – NR: May 31, 2006
• Updated Standards raise the bar for continuing care – NR: May 3, 2006
• Government releases Health Benefit Design Options report – NR: April 26, 2006
  • Read the Options report
• New health bill process invites Albertans' input – NR: April 20, 2006
  • Read the "What We Heard" Report
  • Read the highlights of Alberta government polling
• Albertans agree health care system needs change – NR: March 15, 2006
  • Read the Analysis of Findings
• Alberta health care renewal focuses on balance – NR: February 28, 2006
  • Read the 2006 Health Policy Framework

2005

On January 11, 2005, the Alberta government announced a new phase in health care evolution. Evolution in this case means making continual improvements to our health system through innovation and more efficient ways to deliver health care services.

These improvements were intended for the government to implement the remaining recommendations of the Premier's Advisory Council on Health – the Mazankowski Report.  December 2001.

• Health Minister clarifies released documents – NR: November 8, 2005
  • Read the PowerPoint presentation of "Removing Barriers to Private Funding and Private Delivery of Health Care services in Alberta"
  • Read the Third Way Progress Update
• Consulting firm hired for analysis of Health Care Insurance – NR: November 3, 2005
• Government takes action on wait times: commits $1.4 billion of surplus on additional beds, facilities across province – NR: October 14, 2005
• $189 million to digitize X-rays, ST and MRI scans - Faster reports and images will improve quality of care for Albertans – NR: July 25, 2005
• Moving ahead with better health care – NR: July 12, 2005
  • Read more on the 2005 renewal initiatives
• Premier's Statement, Supreme Court Chaoulli decision – NR: June 9, 2005
• Grant program continues to expand Alberta's telehealth network – NR: May 13, 2005
• Health care evolution gains speed in Alberta – NR: January 11, 2005

2005 International Health Care Symposium

Alberta hosted an international health care symposium in May 2005 to examine the best ideas in health care delivery from other countries and consider what would work best here. Read more about the Alberta Symposium on Health 2005.

• Symposium on Health – Highlights from Thursday – NR: May 5, 2005
• Government commits to action on health as symposium concludes – NR: May 5, 2005
• Symposium on Health – Highlights from Wednesday – NR: May 5, 2005
• Symposium on Health – Highlights from Tuesday – NR: May 4, 2005
• Alberta's Health Symposium Available via Web Cast – NR: April 30, 2005
• World-wide health system innovators to spark Third Way discussion – NR: April 7, 2005