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Opinion: Who pays for Alberta’s dual-practice health care?  

Alberta has moved toward a dual-practice health-care system where physicians can charge patients directly for faster access to care, while also providing care to patients funded by the public system. This is a first in Canada. Supporters claim this will expand choice and increase capacity. Opponents say dual practice undermines Canada’s core value that health care should be available based on need, not the ability to pay.

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But there is a question that deserves more attention. Who pays for the system required to make dual practice possible, and who bears the risks when it fails?

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