The development of the new Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) continues to take shape.

Last week Scott Livingstone was named the province's first CEO of the SHA, a decision the Cypress Health Region's Chief Financial Officer and interim CEO was in favour of.

"I actually think it's a great choice," Larry Allsen said. "He's been in the health system for a number of years, so he knows the in's and out's, who the players are and how the government operates. It allows the authority to hit the ground running, without having to bring someone in that may take 6-9 months just to get their bearings."

Livingstone has served as the President and CEO of the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency for over 7 years and will continue to do so until the provincial health authority is enacted.

"Once that is put in place, we're thinking late fall and maybe into December," Allsen explained. "The Saskatchewan Health Authority board will then take the reins and so will the CEO."

Allsen also noted because the SHA won't be enacted until late fall, the 12 individual health regions will "probably" be budgeting for themselves for the 2018/19 fiscal year.

After 32 years in the health industry, Allsen isn't sure of his future yet but says nobody has checked themselves out.

"I see that across our amalgamation table that people aren't doing that and it's refreshing," he said. "It's a little disheartening at the same time because people put their life sweat into this and at the end of the some of us may not be around. I hope this is for the better and I hope we can look back on this in 2-3 years and say this was a really good move."