A new week brings new troubling information when it comes to the provincial government and public healthcare in Alberta.
A Globe and Mail story reported two days before Athana Mentzelopoulos, the former head of Alberta Health Services (AHS), was to meet with Alberta Auditor-General Doug Wylie to discuss an investigation into procurement contracts that led to more than $600 million in deals, she was removed from the role by the province.
Before being dismissed, Mentzelopoulos sent an eight-page letter to the AHS board – which was fired at the end of January by the UCP government – alleging Premier Danielle Smith’s office interfered in AHS contract negotiations.
Wylie, whose role is independent of the government, has launched an investigation into contracts doled out to chartered surgical facilities, COVID-19 personal protective equipment and pain-relief medications.
Smith has asked the province’s Auditor-General to make his review of the allegations a priority, and she said in a statement that her staff will be fully cooperative in taking part.
AHS has also launched an investigation, which Smith has asked to be a priority and done as soon as possible.
The latest controversy adds to a growing list of allegations and confusing decisions surrounding the Smith government and public healthcare.
In January, a provincial government-sanctioned report on Alberta’s COVID-19 response drew criticism from medical organizations that it disregarded an evidence-based approach to medical decisions.
The report recommendations, which had several members be publicly opposed to health decisions during the pandemic, promoted treatments debunked by the medical community and argued not enough evidence exists to show COVID-19 vaccines are safe.
A key aspect of Smith’s election campaign was to overhaul the provincial healthcare system, especially with elements of the UCP base vehemently opposed to the COVID-19 public health restrictions.
Smith has stayed true to her word and wasted little time reshaping Alberta’s public health system.
She’s removed the AHS board twice, installed an official administrator and then replaced the position with a CEO who was fired and replaced with another official administrator in deputy health minister Andre Tremblay.
The latest controversy had Mentzelopoulos write an eight-page letter to AHS’ now former board that alleged government officials – including Smith’s former chief of staff Marshall Smith – pressured her to sign chartered surgical facility contracts with private companies that came in higher than others that were on the table.
Mentzelopoulos alleged AHS paid MHCare Medical, which worked to import generic medicine from Turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic that only had about 30 per cent of the supply arrive, $75 million. Part of those allegations had Jitendra Prasad, who was previously in charge of AHS procurements, have an MHCare email account while doing the negotiations.
Other contracts tied to MHCare and associated companies had purchases tagged at about $614 million.
The Globe and Mail has previously shown Sam Mraiche, who controls MHCare, gave ministers and Smith’s staff members luxury box seats for Edmonton Oilers games in 2024.
When Mentzelopoulos said she looked into contracts and procurements, she claimed provincial officials ordered her to halt the investigation.
She claims Health Minister Adriana LaGrange and former deputy minister Ray Gilmour were aware of Mentzelopoulos’ investigation and concerns, while the former AHS board and Tremblay were also aware.
That same board recommended Mentzelopoulos go to the RCMP with her information. The RCMP has received at least one complaint regarding the allegations.
Medical organizations and individuals have been highly critical of chartered surgical facilities and the growth of their use negatively impacts the healthcare system.
In what has become a slow degradation of the province’s healthcare system and an influx of private services, the latest allegations are a further stain on the provincial government when it comes to healthcare.
One of the greatest services a provincial government can provide to residents is public healthcare.
In creating a non-stop drama and controversy, the provincial government is toying with the health of millions of Albertans now and into the future.
