Amendments to the Regional Health Authority Act were made to modernize Manitoba's health care system.

Cameron Friesen is the Minister of Health, Seniors, and Active Living and he explains the amendments were made to simplify the health care system. Friesen outlines three separate master reports conclude that the Manitoba health care system is overly complicated. Other studies proved the system is the most expensive per-person in terms of delivery.

"We are bringing a bill that will essentially modernize the health care system," says Friesen. "By moving a number of systems altogether, by looking for areas to cooperate better, and to consolidate services."

Friesen notes the Regional Health Authorities will remain and they will continue to act as service delivery agencies. Share Health has been established and will take care of human resource planning, back office planning. Shared Health will also be responsible for the delivery of a preventative and clinical services plan, a plan Friesen says will get the most use out of every dollar spent on health care.

"We believe this is the kind of blueprint for health care transformation that is going to put the patient in the centre and is going to make our system sustainable in the long run," stresses Friesen.

Friesen insists the purpose of this change is to get better results for patients.