Province transfers cancer care away from Alberta Health Services

By ANNA SMITH Local Journalism Initiative on April 9, 2025.

Cancer care, organ and tissue donation and transplantation will be transferred to Acute Care Alberta later this year.

Part of the work to transfer AHS to hospital based services under Acute Care Alberta, the province says it is “taking additional steps to ensure Alberta’s health-care system has the proper oversight in place to support the newly formed integrated system.”

These steps have included transferring emergency health services from AHS to Acute Care and will in the future include the transfer of these vital services as well.

“Integrating cancer care and organ and tissue services under Acute Care Alberta helps ensure Albertans receive the high-quality, co-ordinated care they deserve – delivered when and where they need it most,” Health Minister Adriana Lagrange said in a statement.

It is estimated that half of all Albertans will have cancer during their lifetime, and hundreds of Albertans receive an organ or tissue transplant. As such, Alberta’s government is creating specialized focus for cancer care and organ and tissue donation and transplantation will ensure the best care in these key areas.

Clinical services will remain with AHS, but Acute Care Alberta will provide oversight, allowing Cancer Care Alberta to “focus solely on providing timely, cutting-edge treatment and services for those with cancer” and to create “a dedicated plan, program development and vision” for organ and tissue donation and transplantation, says the province.

Proposed legislative changes that would support completing the work to refocus the health care system are expected to be tabled this spring.