Alberta Government decision impacts ONLY Alberta CATARACT Surgery patients 

(For further clarification, see our FAQ)

April 1, 2010

• On Friday, March 26, 2010, Alberta Health Services informed us of their decision to limit the number of facilities able to provide cataract surgery services to Alberta patients. Instead of several non-hospital surgical facilities contracted to provide cataract surgery in both Calgary and Edmonton, there will now be only  two in Calgary and two in Edmonton.

• What that means is that physicians from various surgical centres will only be allowed to provide surgical services in those specified centres, requiring re-routing of hundreds of patients and doctors from several clinics.

• The decision is to be effective April 1. However, because of the very short notice (4 business days), we are extremely concerned about the impact on our patients, many of whom have been booked for surgery for months. Our priority has been on making the transition as seamless as possible for our patients. 

• There are many questions about the ability of these contracted providers to accommodate this demand in such a short time frame. We are concerned about the serious logistical issues that are presented as a result of this decision.

• We are shocked and saddened by this decision, which was made on the basis of who could provide services at the lowest cost to Alberta Health Services. 

• We have been working with various levels of government to express our concerns and advocate for the best possible outcomes for our patients.

• We will work in every way possible to minimize the impact on our patients. Alberta cataract patients will continue to receive pre- and post-op care  at Gimbel Eye Centre (both Calgary and Edmonton), the only change will be the location of the CATARACT surgery. This decision does not affect our refractive surgery in any way.

• The decision also only affects ALBERTA patients. We will continue to provide cataract surgery to out-of-province and out-of-country patients at Gimbel Eye Centre in Calgary and Edmonton.

This decision saddens us deeply.  If you have concerns or an opinion about this decision, here are some options for you.  You can call or email your MLA, and/or the health minister, and/or the premier.  

Use this online tool to find your MLA contact info.

Use this online feedback form to contact the Health Minister or the Premier.  

You can also

• Call the toll-free province-wide feedback/comment line at 310-4455.
• Fax a letter to Government of Alberta at 780-422-2852. To fax toll-free within Alberta, dial 310-0000 then 780-422-2852.
• Mail a letter to:
  Government of Alberta
  PO Box 1333
  Edmonton, Alberta
  T5J 2N2