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Province announcing future of health care system Wednesday

Jan 3, 2017 | 3:48 PM

We will know Wednesday what the future of Saskatchewan’s health care system will look like.

Health Minister Jim Reiter is expected to announce the conclusion of a panel’s work into the structure of regional health authorities (RHAs).

It was expected that the current number of 12 RHAs will be reduced.

BC and Manitoba have five RHAs and Alberta has just one. All have larger populations than Saskatchewan.

The panel was appointed in August and consists of Saskatoon’s Dr. Dennis Kendel, CEO of the Physician Recruitment Agency of Saskatchewan; Chair of the Prince Albert Parkland RHA Brenda Abrametz; and Tyler Bragg of Swift Current, the CEO of Pinnacle Financial Services and former chair of the Cypress RHA.

Bragg and Kendel will be at Reiter’s announcement.

The panel was mandated to review not just the number of RHAs but also the boundaries, accountability and efficiencies.

It was right after the April election that the Saskatchewan Party government began to speak of “transformational change” and Wednesday’s decision may lead to job losses or tough decisions, particularly in light of the province’s deficit.

 

Email smills@cjme.com

Twitter @smillsSK