EDMONTON -- Ophthalmologists want to leave the Alberta Medical Association to negotiate directly with the provincial government.
In a letter directedto Health Minister Tyler Shandro, the Eye Physicians and Surgeons Association of Alberta (EPSAA) asked the health minister to let groups of physicians to negotiate with the government themselves, instead of through AMA.
"There's many models around the world that show different ways of providing vision care and we just want to open the conversation," said EPSAA president Vikram Lehki. "We're willing to work with them to look at creative, innovate solutions as Alberta always has."
In response, Shandro said the 2018 legislation that made AMA the exclusive representative for physicians would have to be amended to negotiate individually with each group.
"The past few months have been trying and difficult, and I understand why there is frustration and a desire to seek new solutions," the health minister said.
"I am willing to meet with any group of physicians who have suggestions on how to hold spending to current levels and avoid cost overruns."
Shandro and EPSAA will meet in the coming days, he said.
CTV News has reached out to both the EPSAA and AMA for a response.
