[Correspondence] Introducing dual practice may threaten equitable surgical access in Canada

Alberta's proposal to permit surgeons to perform both publicly funded and privately paid procedures represents a departure from Canada's commitment to universal, publicly financed health care.1 Although presented as a strategy to expand surgical capacity and reduce wait times, this shift introduces structural incentives that could undermine equitable access to medically necessary procedures, particularly for low-income, rural, and Indigenous populations who already face barriers to timely care.2