Alberta’s new health agency, Primary Care Alberta, will start operations on November 1, according to Health Minister Adriana LaGrange. The agency will oversee and coordinate primary care across the province.
Dr. Kim Simmonds, the incoming CEO, said the goal is to ensure every Albertan has a strong relationship with a family doctor or healthcare team. “People should have a health home where they are known, and they don’t have to repeat their health story,” she added.
The new agency aims to create a modern, unified healthcare system, improve access to care, and ease pressure on the entire system. Its immediate focus is ensuring all Albertans have access to high-quality primary care.
Long-term goals include developing new care models, improving tools for healthcare providers, and setting consistent standards for primary care across the province. It will also address the needs of rural and Indigenous communities and work to reduce the burden of chronic diseases.
The province has been gathering feedback from over 30,000 Albertans, with concerns about healthcare access, workforce support, and better communication.
This move follows Alberta’s plan to decentralize Alberta Health Services (AHS), which began in 2023, creating four specialized healthcare organizations: primary care, acute care, continuing care, and mental health.
Recovery Alberta, launched in September, now oversees mental health and addiction services.
