$10 million for Primary Care Innovation Fund will further support efforts toward early detection

Posted on October 22, 2026 by Sunny South News

Southern Alberta Newspapers

The province is investing $10 million to the Primary Care Innovation Fund, it announced Oct. 7, supporting projects that improve health care.

“Primary care is the foundation of a strong health system,”Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services Justin Wright said in a statement.

“The Primary Care Innovation Fund is helping bring promising ideas into practical solutions that connect patients to care sooner, make the system easier to navigate and reduce unnecessary trips to emergency departments and hospitals. We want to find what works and expand it to benefit more Albertans.”

The fund aims to turn promising ideas into practical solutions that can improve how Albertans experience primary care, focused on areas such as improving access, connecting patients with supports earlier and finding better ways to meet the needs of different communities.

Currently, the first projects funded this way are already providing results, the province says, such as Arthritis Society Canada being able to screen 130 infants using enhanced portable ultrasound technology to catch hip dysplasia early and reduce risk of lifelong joint damage.

Likewise, the University of Alberta has used the funding to deliver more than 630 virtual appointments to patients in 28 communities, bringing specialized perimenopause and menopause care closer to home for women, says the province.

The 2026-27 program will support organizations, care providers and community partners in testing and developing new approaches to primary care.

“Introducing new approaches can be challenging for primary care teams managing complex demands,” said Praxus Health co-founder and CEO Theresa Tang. “The Primary Care Innovation Fund helped launch InnovateHealth, giving teams practical tools to lead change, test new ideas and improve care for patients across Alberta.”

Applications for the next intake of the Primary Care Innovation Fund are open until Nov. 2.