Recently, The Government of Alberta has hired an Indigenous Patient Safety Investigator and Advocate in an effort to improve health care delivery and outcomes for First Nations, Métis and Inuit patients. There is a significant disparity in care between Indigenous and non-Indigenous patients and this seems like a great change. However, I remain skeptical when it comes to reading this news. This position seems like it won't make a direct change into the treatment of Indigenous peoples. Furthermore, there is an ongoing decrease in public healthcare spending which will further degrade treatment of Indigenous people. This seems more like trying to treat the symptoms of the issue rather than addressing the main problems. The article states that: "Establishing this role was a recommendation put forward by the Modernizing Primary Health Care (MAPS) Indigenous Advisory Panel, officials say. The recommendations of the panel resulted in an implementation plan called The Way Forward, which outlines short- and long-term actions to help deliver access to culturally safe care and improve health outcomes for Indigenous peoples". I am skeptical that this will create change with decrease in healthcare spending but I hope that I can be proven wrong and this position can affect major change in the treatment of Indigenous health. What are your thoughts on this position? I remain pessimistic but do you think there can be a significant change?

Article:
https://lethbridgenewsnow.com/2024/12/13/alberta-hires-indigenous-patient-advocate-to-address-unfair-treatment-in-health-care-settings/