The Province is launching its health authority review to ensure resource allocations are supporting critical patient services and minimize unnecessary administrative spending.

The Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) has been selected as the first health authority to undergo review due to its provincewide role providing services and an array of additional shared services, such as information technology and lab services, across the health system. The PHSA provides provincial services through BC Cancer, BC Children’s Hospital, BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre, BC Emergency Health Services, BC Mental Health and the BC Centre for Disease Control.

“Government is committed to ensuring health authorities are functioning as effectively and efficiently as possible, and that programs and governance make sense when tackling the complex challenges facing health care today,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “That’s why we’re reviewing each health authority to confirm patients, their families and health-care providers are benefiting from the most possible and the best use of resources directed to front-line patient care.”

Last week, PHSA’s president and CEO, David Byres, accepted a secondment reporting to the Minister of Health to work in partnership with the ministry and Indigenous leaders to amplify reconciliation efforts focused on eliminating Indigenous-specific racism in health care.

Dr. Penny Ballem has been asked to step out of her role as Vancouver Coastal Health board chair to take on the role of PHSA’s interim president and CEO. In this role, Ballem will lead the review and make recommendations and associated changes as needed to reposition, streamline and optimize resources at the PHSA to support patients and health-care providers throughout the province.

After eight years as PHSA board chair, Tim Manning has completed his term and retires on March 31, 2025, along with several other board members. An interim board, chaired by Maureen Maloney OBC, KC, has been appointed to support the review. Appointment of a fourth PHSA board member is anticipated in the coming weeks.

Other changes at regional health authorities include vice-chair William Duvall appointed to succeed Ballem as board chair at Vancouver Coastal Health and vice-chair Opreet Kang appointed to succeed Jim Sinclair as interim board chair at Fraser Health as he completes his term and retires after serving seven years in that role.

“On behalf of a grateful province, I would like to thank all out-going board chairs, Tim Manning and Jim Sinclair, as well as all departing board members at the PHSA and regional health authorities for their commitment and dedication to strengthening health care, especially over these past several years, helping lead the system through so many complex challenges,” Osborne said. “I would also like to thank and welcome those newly appointed as they step into important roles supporting the challenging work ahead.”

A backgrounder follows.