Improving Healthcare for Women and Children

The United Conservative Party announced a commitment to improving healthcare for Women and Children in Alberta.

Improving access to healthcare and funding ground-breaking research and initiatives focused on the unique health needs of women and children, will improve healthcare outcomes for families today, and for decades to come.

“Women and children have special health needs that need to be met if we’re going to improve health outcomes,” stated United Conservative Leader Danielle Smith. “Whether it’s increasing funding for obstetrics and midwives, working to expand newborn screening, or supporting important research, this announcement will help more Albertans lead healthier lives.”

Improving Healthcare for Women and Children:

· Expanding newborn screening to test for more diseases and conditions.

· $5 million boost for testing, educational supports for children with autism and other complex needs.

· $10 million to add more obstetrics doctors and develop a Province-wide Midwives Strategy.

· $10 million Legacy Grant to the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation (AWHF) to support women-focused research, advocacy, and care.

Newborn screenings are so important because the sooner a child is diagnosed, the sooner life-saving treatments can begin. Alberta already leads the country with automatic newborn screenings for 22 conditions. The UCP will expand that by five more including:

· Congenital cytomegalovirus;

· Argininosuccinic aciduria;

· Guanidinoacetate methyltransferase deficiency;

· Mucopolysaccharidosis type 1; and

· 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA lyase.

A re-elected United Conservative government will also add funding for testing and educational supports for children with autism and other complex needs to ensure there are improved wraparound supports integrating community, education, and health care.

An investment of $10 million over the next two years will help develop a Province-wide Midwives Strategy and provide improved healthcare support for women by adding more obstetrics doctors for communities in need, this will include Lethbridge and other rural and mid-sized cities. These initiatives will assist in reducing the pressure on obstetrics, ERs and primary care, particularly in rural Alberta.

Finally, a legacy grant to the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation (AWHF) will support women-focused research, advocacy, and care. This $10 million grant will fund research into cervical cancer, heart disease, and other women’s health matters as well as recruit top researchers to the province. The grant will further support advocacy and awareness efforts, including national campaigns and women’s health empowerment initiatives.

The United Conservative Party is focused on moving Alberta forward by building a stronger healthcare system today and for future generations of Albertans.

UCP Announcements

Tax Cuts for all Albertans

The United Conservative Party is committed to making life more affordable by cutting taxes for all Albertans starting with personal income taxes. A re-elected UCP