The Saskatchewan government’s plan to move to a single provincial health authority this fall has taken a key step forward.
The Saskatchewan Party government introduced legislation on March 28 to dissolve all regional health authorities in favour of a new Provincial Health Authority.
“One Provincial Health Authority that is focused on better coordination of health services across the province will help to ensure patients receive high-quality, timely health care, regardless of where they live in Saskatchewan,” Health Minister Jim Reiter said in a news release.
The legislation does not outline the structure or composition of the Provincial Health Authority, or the composition of the board of directors that will govern it.
These matters will be considered as part of ongoing transition planning, the province said.
The province released new details of what the Provincial Health Authority will mean for Saskatchewanians, including:
• providing oversight of compensation levels to the contracts of the CEO and those who report to the CEO;
• allowing for the creation and continuation of Community Advisory Networks to ensure community needs and interests are identified and advanced;
• ensuring donations raised by local foundations continue to be used for the local health services or facilities they were raised for; and
• establishing the specific roles and responsibilities of the Minister and Provincial Health Authority; and repeal the Regional Health Services Act.
Saskatchewan implemented regional health authorities in 1997. Creighton and Denare Beach are part of the Mamawetan Churchill River Health Region, headquartered in La Ronge.
