Edmonton – Alberta Liberal Leader David Swann wants the Stelmach administration to reinstate the Alberta Cancer Board, which the Premier eliminated in 2008 along with the health regions. The dissolution made Alberta the only province in Canada without a cancer board. 

“Cancer treatment requires a multi-disciplinary team of pathologists, radiologists, surgeons, nurses and others focusing on specialized services,” Swann stated in Question Period. “Why is the Premier standing by while these teams are dismantled?”

Swann notes that the breakup of these multi-disciplinary teams has introduced new inefficiencies and delays – creating potentially life-threatening situations for cancer patients, making the recruitment of health care professionals more difficult and making it harder than ever to reduce wait times for cancer treatment.

“Alberta once had an excellent, effective, well-respected cancer board,” Swann says. “The Premier’s shortsighted decision to eliminate the board has created worse health outcomes for patients. By eliminating the Alberta Cancer Board, the Premier set a course for deterioration and confusion in cancer care delivery. He should reverse this bad decision as quickly as possible.”

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