Alberta Health Services and Stephen Duckett have jointly agreed that now is the time to move on.

The decision comes after Duckett ducked reporters' questions last week, saying he was too busy eating a cookie.

Duckett apologized the next day on his blog.

AHS Board Chair Ken Hughes says both the 14-member board and Duckett jointly agreed that "now is the time to move on."

"We agreed with Dr. Duckett that he would no longer continue to stay on as the CEO because his ability to be effective in that role...we felt was compromised," said Hughes.

One board member, Gord Bontje from Red Deer has resigned and Hughes expects more board members to step down.

Healthcare advocates and the opposition have been calling for Duckett's resignation, saying the cookie comment showed indifference to the massive challenges the health care system is facing.

His dismissal comes as no surprise to Friends of Medicare.

But the group says the finger of blame for his downfall points to both the Tory government as well as to Duckett himself.

"Mr. Duckett took his direction from the health minister and the premier", says David Eggen. "We must not let Mr. Duckett's dismissal deflect the blame from those who are actually responsible for the systemic problems in health care."

Liberal Leader David Swann agrees.

"Stephen Duckett's actions on Friday were inexcusable, but let's not let a viral video distract us from the real problem," Swann said in a written statement.

"Duckett should be only the first to go. Just as Duckett has proven his inability to manage health care, so too have the Premier and his health ministers, past and present," he adds.

Duckett will receive a year's salary in severance pay, along with benefits and moving expenses, a total of nearly $700,000.

Dr. Chris Eagle has been appointed interim CEO of Alberta Health Services.