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'We expect Alberta Health Services (AHS) officials to conduct meaningful consultation with our union.' - HSAA president Elisabeth Ballermann.
Edmonton (22 April 2009) - This week is National Medical Laboratory Week in Canada.
The Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA/NUPGE) is using the occasion to draw attention to concerns it has raised about an Alberta government plan to integrate lab services and centralize testing. HSAA's 18,000 members include some 4,000 lab members across the province.
"Laboratory professionals are fundamental to the success of Canada’s public health-care system," says HSAA president Elisabeth Ballermann.
“Eighty-five per cent of diagnoses are based on laboratory tests, an indication of the importance of medical laboratory professionals within the health-care system. Without question, the work of medical laboratory professionals saves lives.”
Ballermann says the province must take into account "the impacts on the people who provide these services" before proceeding with any centralization plan.
“We expect Alberta Health Services (AHS) officials to conduct meaningful consultation with our union regarding this centralization plan, which ultimately could signify displacement and/or layoffs for some of our lab members.”
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE