Alberta Record

· Pattern / Health 2024-Q4 · in-force

Health system refocusing: Primary Care Alberta creation + Integration Council update + AHS Provincial Health Corp + 5 OICs (372-377)

In Q4 2024, the Health Ministry issued structural instruments establishing Primary Care Alberta as a new provincial agency (MO 330/331), appointing its chair, updating the Integration Council to include its CEO (MO 332), and on December 12…

High impactHealth system governanceHealth-care bodies
Updated

OIC 2024/377: The OIC makes the Provincial Health Agencies Act (Consequential Amendments) Regulation (No. 3), which amends eleven existing regulations to update terminology, clarify ministerial oversight, establish new patient concerns officer roles, and revise financial reporting standards for health entities.

What changed

  • MO 2024_329: This Ministerial Order establishes the System Refocusing Transition Advisory Council to provide recommendations and advice for the transition of acute care oversight functions from Alberta Health Services to a new Provin
  • MO 2024_330: The Minister of Health establishes 'Primary Care Alberta' as a new provincial health agency responsible for the primary care health services sector.
  • MO 2024_331: The Minister of Health appoints Kimberly Simmonds as the first member and chair of Primary Care Alberta (PCA), a newly established provincial health agency, for a four-year term, and determines her remuneration and expen
  • MO 2024_332: This Ministerial Order continues the Integration Council, updates its membership by adding the CEO of Primary Care Alberta as a voting member and the Chair of the Health Quality Council of Alberta as a non-voting member,
  • OIC 2024/372: This Order in Council proclaims specific sections of the Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2024 (No. 2) into force on December 20, 2024.
  • OIC 2024/373: The OIC amends the ABC Benefits Corporation Regulation to change the appointing authority for one board member to the oversight Minister as defined in the Provincial Health Agencies Act.

Why it matters

  • In Q4 2024, the Health Ministry issued structural instruments establishing Primary Care Alberta as a new provincial agency (MO 330/331), appointing its chair, updating the Integration Council to include its CEO (MO 332), and on December 12 proclaiming sections of the Health Statutes Amendment Act (No. 2) alongside five OICs creating the Alberta Health Services Provincial Health Corporation, amending ABC Benefits, and issuing related designations and regulations (OICs 372-377). These actions form a coordinated institutional restructuring for health system refocusing and transition, distinct from routine appointments across health colleges. The November 7 MO 329 establishing the System Refocusing Transition Advisory Council provides supporting context for this policy push.

Primary sources (10)