WHEREAS the Regional Health Authority Boards are politically appointed and loaded to the cities; and

WHEREAS rural Saskatchewan health needs are being by-passed; and

WHEREAS the funding that rural Saskatchewan deserves is going to the cities; and

BE It RESOLVED that SARM lobby the Provincial Government to return to the elected Regional Health Authority Board structure so rural Saskatchewan has adequate representation on the Boards.

THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH'S RESPONSE

Regional  Health  Authority  (RHA)  board members  have overall responsibility for organizing, managing and delivering health services for all residents  within their health regions.  They work with the Ministry  of Health to ensure co-ordinated, province-wide health system planning  to help achieve strategic  goals.  Appointments to Regional Health Authority  boards are based on the expression of interest  by those individuals who come forward,  following a public call for nominations.

Each RHA board must have members  with an appropriate mix of skills and competencies to effectively represent  their communities and address a wide range of health care issues.   Board members  are to represent  the interests of all communities within their regions.   Appointed  boards offer a balance of age, residency  and experience.  In the past, health board elections  were not particularly  successful  with many candidates being acclaimed  and there were low voter turnouts.