In a significant development, former Alberta Health Services (AHS) executive Athana Mentzelopoulos has brought forth serious allegations concerning health care procurement. The claims made in a detailed letter to AHS suggest undue pressure from government officials, including Premier Danielle Smith's then-chief of staff, urging her to sign contracts with Chartered Surgical Facilities (CSF) at inflated costs. This revelation has prompted Premier Smith to call for a swift and thorough review of the troubling allegations.
Ms. Mentzelopoulos was unexpectedly dismissed from her position two days before she was scheduled to meet with the Auditor-General regarding these issues. The removal of the entire AHS board, twice, and its replacement with an official administrator has compounded concerns about governance within the health authority. Furthermore, the AHS board had previously advised Ms. Mentzelopoulos to present her findings to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
The RCMP has confirmed receiving at least one complaint related to these allegations. In her letter, Ms. Mentzelopoulos claims that she was directed by the government to halt her internal investigation into the procurement processes at AHS. She also alleges that Jitendra Prasad, a former AHS procurement official, maintained an email account with MHCare during negotiations for a generic pain-medication contract.
Premier Smith has responded by requesting an expedited internal review within AHS and by seeking transparency in all dealings with the Auditor-General. She has asked Auditor-General Doug Wylie to hasten his investigation into these allegations.
"They are troubling allegations and they should be reviewed as quickly as possible," said Danielle Smith.
Despite the gravity of the allegations, Alberta Surgical Group, a CSF mentioned in the claims, maintains its innocence, stating that it committed no wrongdoing.
"the claims and insinuations made against them are based on a flawed perspective, without merit, and contrary to substantiated evidence," stated Gregory Bentz.
In addition to these developments, Ms. Mentzelopoulos accuses Marshall Smith, Premier Smith's former chief of staff, of attempting to influence negotiations over CSFs. In light of these assertions, AHS has paused the signing of new contracts with companies under examination and is conducting its own internal review.
Naheed Nenshi, a notable figure in Alberta politics, commented on the situation:
"Her own office is implicated. The investigation can’t be delivered to the people being investigated."
Premier Smith has publicly stated her position regarding these matters:
"As Premier, I was not involved in any wrongdoing."
She further emphasized her dissatisfaction with the performance of AHS:
"It’s no secret I have been unhappy with the level and quality of service delivered by AHS and in the inability of AHS to deliver quality and timely healthcare to Albertans."
The involvement of government officials in these allegations has raised significant questions about political influence and transparency within Alberta's health sector. The call for an expedited review underlines the urgency to address potential misconduct swiftly.
"I will be writing Auditor-General Doug Wylie to ask for an expedited review and his findings on this issue," expressed Danielle Smith.
The situation remains fluid as AHS navigates this complex scenario with an official administrator, Mr. Tremblay, overseeing operations. The outcome of both internal and external reviews will be crucial in restoring trust and ensuring accountability within Alberta's health services.
