The Alberta government has allocated nearly $30 million over the next two years to support women’s health research and expand the province’s newborn screening program. Premier Danielle Smith announced this funding commitment during a news conference in Calgary.
Women’s Health Research
The province will invest $20 million in women’s health research over the next two years. This funding will be directed toward:
* Creating the Alberta Women’s Health Foundation Legacy Grant, which will support research on common women’s health conditions such as cervical cancer and heart disease.
* Recruiting researchers from across Canada to Alberta.
Newborn Screening Expansion
An additional $6 million will be allocated to expand the Alberta Newborn Screening Program to include screening for four new conditions:
* Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV)
* Argininosuccinic aciduria
* Guanidinoacetate methyltransferase deficiency
* Mucopolysaccharidosis type 1
Alberta will become the first province in Canada to screen newborns for these conditions, making the program one of the most comprehensive in the country.
The expanded screening will enable early detection and intervention for these conditions, which can lead to serious health issues or developmental disabilities if left untreated.
Health Minister Adriana LaGrange emphasized the importance of early diagnosis and treatment for these conditions. The newborn screening program screened 99.2% of infants born in Alberta in 2022-23, contributing to improved healthcare outcomes for children and their families.
