The Alberta Health Services (AHS) Board announced the departure of Dr. Verna Yiu as opposition parties cry foul on the move.
While AHS board chair Gregory Turnbull said the province is grateful for Yiu's leadership through the worst days of the pandemic, NDP Health Critic David Shepherd said the move is a bid to win the support of extremists ahead of Jason Kenney's leadership review and, "pushes public healthcare in Alberta even deeper into chaos. The UCP's firing of Yiu comes at a critical time for the province and public healthcare in general."
In a statement, Yiu said she is grateful to have led AHS for the past six years, and though her contract was not to expire for nearly another year.
"I thank all staff, physicians and volunteers for their steadfast care of Albertans and their ability to put patients and families first, particularly as we have navigated through the past two pandemic years," she said.
Health Minister Jason Copping said the AHS board has been planning for some time to start the recruitment process for a new CEO at the end of Yiu's extended term.
"It's time to move forward with an agenda to improve and modernize the health system," Copping said in a statement. "The pandemic has changed the timelines (for better access to surgery) but it hasn't changed the goals."
The AHS Board has asked Mauro Chies, Vice President, Cancer Care Alberta and Clinical Support Services, to serve in the role of interim CEO on a temporary basis.
