"I'm convinced that we can do high quality, world-class work in the public sector,"
Health Minister Sarah Hoffman announced today that her government will not go ahead with a proposed plan to expand private laboratory services and build a 'mega-lab' in Edmonton.
"We're not moving forward with any project," Hoffman said.
She has ordered Alberta Health Services to cancel the request for proposals on a $3-billion laboratory contract that was awarded last year under the previous government to an Australian company called Sonic.
Last October, Alberta Health Services announced that Sonic Healthcare of Australia had been chosen as the preferred vendor for a 15-year contract to provide hospital and private lab services in the capital region.
DynaLife, the company that had done much of that lab work for years, launched an appeal of that decision. The text of the decision was released on Thursday
The government now plans to review how to deliver lab services in Alberta before making any decisions.
The Health Sciences Association of Alberta represents 1,100 DynaLife lab workers and another 500 who work in the public system.
President Elisabeth Ballermann said she was pleased with Hoffman's decision. She said her members have long wanted lab services delivered by the public system.
"I'm convinced that we can do high quality, world-class work in the public sector," she said.
Ballermann was also concerned that under the contract, the new facility to house the Edmonton lab would be owned by a private company, not by Albertans.
"We have long held the view that this is a critical piece of public infrastructure that we should, as Albertans, own and operate," she said.
more
Health minister cancels $3B contract, will not expand private services in Alberta - Edmonton - CBC News
Health Minister Sarah Hoffman announced today that her government will not go ahead with a proposed plan to expand private laboratory services and build a 'mega-lab' in Edmonton.
"We're not moving forward with any project," Hoffman said.
She has ordered Alberta Health Services to cancel the request for proposals on a $3-billion laboratory contract that was awarded last year under the previous government to an Australian company called Sonic.
Last October, Alberta Health Services announced that Sonic Healthcare of Australia had been chosen as the preferred vendor for a 15-year contract to provide hospital and private lab services in the capital region.
DynaLife, the company that had done much of that lab work for years, launched an appeal of that decision. The text of the decision was released on Thursday
The government now plans to review how to deliver lab services in Alberta before making any decisions.
The Health Sciences Association of Alberta represents 1,100 DynaLife lab workers and another 500 who work in the public system.
President Elisabeth Ballermann said she was pleased with Hoffman's decision. She said her members have long wanted lab services delivered by the public system.
"I'm convinced that we can do high quality, world-class work in the public sector," she said.
Ballermann was also concerned that under the contract, the new facility to house the Edmonton lab would be owned by a private company, not by Albertans.
"We have long held the view that this is a critical piece of public infrastructure that we should, as Albertans, own and operate," she said.
more
Health minister cancels $3B contract, will not expand private services in Alberta - Edmonton - CBC News
