EDMONTON, AB – The current version of Alberta Health Services will be scrapped as the province transitions to a single provincial health system model split into four high-level units, the Alberta government revealed Wednesday.

Alberta’s health system will be managed by primary care, acute care, continuing care and mental health agencies – all provincial bodies working together for an integrated approach, the government said.

The repurposed AHS will have a singular focus on acute care delivery and will be moved under the acute care agency.

The minister of health will oversee three of the new units, while the minister of mental health and addiction will be responsible for the mental health body.

The big overhaul will not impact how an average Albertan will access health care, officials insisted. For example, in a health emergency, patients will still go a local hospital or those who require continuing care services will still receive those in care homes or through home care.

Premier Danielle Smith said the changes will allow the United Conservative Party government to set goals for the entire health care system.

“The current health system in our province limits the government’s ability to provide system-wide oversight on behalf of the people of Alberta,” Smith said during a news conference.

“It also limits our ability to set priorities and require accountability for meeting them.”

Smith explained the unified system will prioritize patients.

“The current Alberta health care system is one that has forgotten who should be at the centre of its existence: patients and the health care experts who look after them,” she said.

It will take at least a year to implement the new system and the four new agencies will not launch until 2024.