Alberta private surgical provider denies allegations of sweetheart deals

An Alberta surgical institution named successful allegations that authorities officials interfered to connection up sweetheart deals for backstage clinics is calling the claims false.

The Alberta Surgical Group says it is “deeply shocked and dismayed” by the allegations and that it aims to supply businesslike and cost-effective surgical services.

This follows a missive obtained by The Globe and Mail from the erstwhile caput of Alberta Health Services, who alleges she was pressured to motion disconnected connected a projected declaration with the institution contempt “significantly accrued costs.”

The Alberta Surgical Group’s 21,000 sq. ft. doctor-driven backstage signifier has been conducting publically funded orthopedic surgeries successful southbound Edmonton since 2022.

The missive by ousted AHS CEO Athana Mentzelopoulos, according to The Globe and Mail report, details allegations of corruption, arm-twisting and conflicts of interests reaching the highest levels of Premier Danielle Smith’s government.

The province’s autarkic auditor wide is already looking into however the wellness ministry and Alberta Health Services o.k. contracts, including for chartered surgical facilities.

Alberta Health Services is declining to reply questions portion the probe is underway but says it has halted the awarding of contracts betwixt the parties involved.

Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi has called for Premier Danielle Smith, Health Minister Adriana LaGrange and her lawman curate to resign portion investigators get to the bottommost of the scandal.

MacEwan University governmental subject prof Chaldeans Mensah said the subordinate stops with the apical brag and that means Smith needs to respond to the concern — albeit, carefully, fixed the ongoing investigations.

“This concern present requires a effect from the government,” Mensah said connected Friday.

“Recognising that there’s investigations going connected by the Auditor General and different parties, but besides laic retired a instauration for the aboriginal that these benignant of practices volition not beryllium countenanced due to the fact that you are dealing with people’s wellness and the wellness attraction strategy that needs amended outcomes for the public.”

— More to come…

— With files from Karen Bartko, Global News and Meaghan Archer