Alberta: A Health System Profile

by John Church, Neale Smith

A Health System Profile provides the first detailed description of Alberta’s health care system and the underpinning political and social forces that have shaped it. Drawing on significant wealth from government revenues generated through the energy sector, Alberta has been able to develop an extensive public health and health care infrastructure. Alberta has used its financial resources to attract health professionals by offering the highest levels of financial compensation in Canada. However, although it spends more per capita than other Canadian jurisdictions, Alberta’s health care system costs and health outcomes are mediocre compared to those of many other Canadian jurisdictions. This unexpected outcome is the consequence of the unique interplay of economic and political forces within Alberta’s political economy. Through an examination of Alberta’s political and economic history, and using research on the structures and services provided, A Health System Profile provides a detailed description of the programs and services that constitute Alberta’s health care system.

286 pages, Hardcover

Published March 9, 2022

About the author

There is more than one author with this name

John Church is a professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Alberta.

Reviews

[Ficus Monstera · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive and incredibly well-structured deep dive into the complexities of Alberta's healthcare system. Church and Smith do an excellent job of breaking down the interplay between politics, funding, and service delivery, with particularly valuable historical context. It's a dense read by nature, but essential for anyone studying Canadian health policy or comparative systems. Dropping one star only because the textbook-heavy prose occasionally makes it a slow go, but the research is top-tier.