Canada Global(Web News)Dr. Mark Joffe is no longer Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, a change that comes against the backdrop of the ongoing measles outbreak in the province.
The Health Minister’s office said in a statement that Joffe’s contract expired on Monday, although it did not say why Joffe’s contract was not extended.
“Since November 2022, Dr. Mark Joffe has served Albertans as the interim Chief Medical Officer of Health with dedication and professionalism, providing public health expertise during significant challenges and changes,” the statement said.
Joffe had been serving in the role on an interim basis after Premier Daniel Smith’s government fired Dr. Deanna Hinshaw in 2022. Joffe served as vice-president of Alberta Health Services before taking over from Hinshaw. He has more than two decades of public health experience in Alberta and is also a professor of medicine at the University of Alberta.
The Alberta government says it is searching for a permanent replacement, but an announcement of an interim CMOH “is expected soon.”
“In the meantime, we will continue to rely on the advice of many public health experts and Alberta Health officials, as well as the Alberta Health Services zone medical officers,” the statement said.
NDP Opposition Leader Nahid Nenshi said the announcement raises questions about eligibility.
Nenshi said the fact that the province has not even named an interim or acting chief medical officer of health means either they were not expecting Dr. Joffe to step down or they simply don’t know what they are doing.
Even if you are not in the middle of a major (measles) outbreak, you really need to have some planning.
Measles cases on the rise
Joffe’s departure comes as Alberta reported 77 measles cases as of Tuesday. Almost all of the cases are in school-aged children, many of whom are under the age of five.
As of Monday, at least eight people had been hospitalized, according to provincial figures.
The Health Minister’s office said “the Alberta government remains vigilant in its approach to measles, ensuring that information and resources are available to all Albertans so they can understand how to protect themselves.” The Health Minister’s office said we want to assure Albertans that public health is a top priority during this transition. The
Alberta government will continue to work with health partners to ensure continuity in public health leadership and response.