At a time when the emergency situation continues to deteriorate, the outgoing Prime Minister yesterday launched his idea of ”private mini-hospitals”, while criticizing the Conservative leader for advocating a two-tier health system.
• Read also: More private health: Legault still attacks Éric Duhaime
• Read also: High occupancy rate: emergencies to avoid during the long leave
Photo Marc-André Gagnon
Flanked by his outgoing Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, on his left as well as his candidate in Anjou–Louis-Riel, Karine Boivin Roy, completely on his right, François Legault was in Montreal yesterday for this announcement.
The leader of the Coalition Avenir Québec, François Legault, presented an unprecedented concept, described as “private mini-hospitals”, halfway between a family medicine group and a hospital, whose services would be reimbursed by the public plan.
Two of these private medical clinics would be built by 2025: one in eastern Montreal, the other in Quebec. Each would cost $35 million and then be financed and managed entirely by the private sector following a call for tenders.
They would include a 24-hour emergency room to treat minor cases and day surgery rooms.
“What we are proposing is to innovate in the private sector, but with services that would be free for patients,” summarized François Legault, who was passing through the riding of Anjou, in Montreal.
The objective, explained the outgoing Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, remains that of offering “better access to the first line” by developing a “complementary” offer.
The private, a delicate subject
Mr. Legault acknowledged that the place of the private sector in the health network, “it is always a somewhat delicate subject in Quebec”.
Then quickly, his remarks targeted his rival Éric Duhaime – whom he did not, however, name directly. Recall that the Conservative leader pledged on Friday to make more room for the private sector in the health sector.
“There are others, continued the CAQ leader, who propose a two-tier system where the rich could afford insurance and therefore have services that the poor cannot afford. We at the CAQ are very clear: we are a moderate party, we are a pragmatic party, not dogmatic. What we propose is to innovate […] with the private. »
Already at two speeds
Later in the day, the Conservative leader reacted by saying that the current system was already two-tier, since private consultations are allowed.
“Without naming me, he attacks our program and says it’s a two-tier health system. Just tell you that the two-tier health system is the current system, ”said Mr. Duhaime in turn during a press briefing in a Mauricie vineyard.
The Conservatives would like to allow everyone to join a private complementary insurance, which should shorten the waiting lists in the public system, according to them.
In the end, Mr. Duhaime says he is happy with the turn of things.
“We would like all political parties to be in favor of a private health care system. […] We’re happy to see that the CAQ considers the P-word a little less taboo, and that’s good news. »
– With Jules Richer