Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta is emerging as a national leader in strengthening its health-care system, with new figures highlighting significant growth in its medical workforce and an increase in surgical procedures across the province.
According to the latest data released by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), Alberta is expanding its health-care workforce faster than other provinces while performing more surgeries per capita than the national average. The province is also offering physician compensation above the Canadian average as it works to improve access to timely and reliable medical services.
Since 2019, Alberta has recorded a 15 per cent increase in surgical procedures, placing it among the top-performing provinces in Canada. The growth is four percentage points above the national average. During 2025–26, the province performed 606 surgeries per 10,000 residents, compared with the national figure of 584.
Hospital and Surgical Health Services Minister Adriana LaGrange said the figures reflect the government’s efforts to strengthen health-care delivery and make the province an attractive destination for medical professionals.
She emphasized that improving surgical capacity and expanding the health-care workforce remain important priorities to ensure Albertans receive quality medical services.
The province has also reported substantial progress in recruiting physicians. CIHI figures indicate that Alberta added nearly 750 doctors over the previous year, expanding its physician workforce at more than twice the national rate.
Further figures from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) show that the province had a record 14,661 registered physicians as of September 30, 2026. This represents an increase of 1,244 doctors compared with the corresponding period last year.
Physician compensation is another area where Alberta stands above the national benchmark, with average payments approximately three per cent higher than the Canadian average, according to CIHI.
Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services Justin Wright said the province intends to build on its physician recruitment momentum by strengthening primary care and improving access to family doctors. He added that the government wants more residents to receive medical attention closer to their homes.
Alberta has also recorded the country’s strongest growth in its nursing workforce. CIHI data for 2024 indicates that the province added nurses at nearly 2.5 times the rate of British Columbia and more than three times the rate of Ontario.
The latest figures underline Alberta’s efforts to respond to growing demand for health services through increased recruitment, expanded surgical capacity and improved access to medical professionals.
The provincial government says it will continue working to strengthen the health-care system and ensure residents can access the treatment and support they need without unnecessary delays.
