New health agency will cut bureaucracy: Currie

P.E.I.'s health system will have an easier time managing its resources under a new agency announced in Thursday's throne speech, says Health Minister Doug Currie.

The establishment of Health P.E.I. will mark the third time in eight years responsibility for the operational side of health care is changing hands. The arm's-length agency will move Currie a step further from front-line health care, and he said that's a good thing.

"Taking the politicians out of health care," said Currie.

Health PEI will have a board of directors, chair and a CEO, but the details of how its role will be separated from the Department of Health's are still sketchy. Currie wants to wait until an independent report is tabled in the legislature next week before commenting too much.

He did say he's heard loud and clear that the current system isn't working.

"Having the operational arm inside the department has created a high level of bureaucracy and frustration for the delivery of health care in the province," he said.

For instance, Currie said, when new resources are needed, all requests are channelled through Treasury Board or cabinet. That won't be the case now. All decisions will be made by Health P.E.I.

Little action in speech, Opposition complains

Opposition leader Olive Crane wants to see details before she comments on Health P.E.I., but she was unimpressed with the throne speech.

"Review, strategic planning, talk about, ask someone else to do — what are they doing?" she wondered.

"Government's in the business of governing the province. And again, it was a very weak speech."

The operational side of health care used to be administered independently. It was called the Provincial Health Services Authority, but it was scrapped in 2005.

Currie wouldn't say how his new model would be different from the old one.