Athabasca residents who require dialysis cannot be treated in town as Athabasca has yet to install a machine, despite uproar from residents who have had to move to Edmonton for treatment.
In 2012, a petition was circulated throughout the town in hopes of bringing attention the needs of dialysis patients who live in the area.
Athabasca born and raised George Philipzyk thinks the town should take a stand.
“I had to start dialysis a year and a half ago, and I was forced to come to Edmonton, but I still own my house in Athabasca,” he said. “There is a need for those machines in the communities that is not being met.”
Philipzyk said he believes there are more than 14 people from Athabasca who have to travel elsewhere for dialysis.
“What I find strange is that Lac La Biche and Athabasca are about the same size, and Lac La Biche got after the government last year, and they have five machines,” Philipzyk said. “They put public pressure on the government, chamber of commerce, and the town council and received five machines.”
He believes Athabasca needs to do the same.
He said Westlock has six machines and that both Westlock and Lac La Biche have waitlists for dialysis.
Neither the Lac La Biche (William J. Cadzow) Healthcare Centre nor the Westlock Healthcare Centre would confirm how many dialysis machines the centres have or how many people may be waitlisted.
“Nothing is happening, and no one seems to care or bring it up. There is no reason we couldn’t have three or four machines,” said Philipzyk.
He explained he talked to MLA Jeff Johnson two years ago and said nothing has happened yet.
“I would love to see dialysis in Athabasca,” Johnson said. “I’ve met with several groups and have taken their concerns to the Minister and will continue to do so.”
Philipzyk thinks the Town of Athabasca and Athabasca County need to get involved.
“The government has an obligation to provide that service, and they are not doing it,” he said. “The chamber of commerce, town council and county council should be getting after Jeff Johnson to get a machine installed.”
Each machine costs $50,000, according to Philipzyk.
“I offered to buy one for the Athabasca hospital two years ago, and they turned me down,” he said. “We could have three or four machines and there would still be a backlog of people.”
He said Westlock is the biggest centre and should double the number of machines installed.
“The government is dragging its feet on dialysis service in Alberta,” he said. “Why doesn’t Athabasca have machines?”
An Alberta Health Services representative was not available for comment as of press time.
