Alberta's Health System

Alberta

As of October 1, 2021, Alberta's population was approximately 4.4 million. Alberta hosts Canada’s first and largest provincewide, fully integrated health system.

Alberta Health (AH)

The Government of Alberta is responsible for health care delivery for Albertans. The Ministry of Health (i.e. Alberta Health):

• sets policy, legislation and standards for the health system in Alberta

• allocates health funding

• administers provincial programs (e.g. Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan)

• provides expertise on communicable disease control

• implements and ensures compliance with government policy. (1)

Alberta Health also owns several extremely important parts of Alberta’s provincial eHealth architecture. [More Information].

Alberta Health Services (AHS)

Past

AHS was formed in 2008-2009 as an amalgamation of 12 organizations.  These organizations included regional health authorities, such as “David Thompson Health Region” and "Capital Health", as well as service based organizations such as Alberta Cancer Board (ACB) and Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC).

Present

AHS is the regional health authority for Alberta and is organized into five geographic zones: North, Edmonton, Central, Calgary and South. 

The role of AHS is to plan and deliver health services across Alberta. (1) It's important to note that not all public health services are delivered by AHS and some may be delivered through private health care clinics (e.g. dentists).

Governance

AHS is governed by an Official Administrator, who is accountable to the Minister of Health and the Premier.

Related Resource(s): 

About AHS

References:

(1) “Ministry of Health.” Government of Alberta, https://www.alberta.ca/health.aspx. Accessed 26-Jan-2022.