Caquist mini-hospitals | Another project “done on a corner table”, deplores the opposition

(Quebec) After the third link, the private mini-hospitals promised by the Legault government in the campaign become the new example of a CAQ project “done on a corner table”, according to the opposition. Liberals and PQ ask Quebec to clarify its intentions while Quebec solidaire asks him to abandon the idea. For its part, the Conservative Party asks him not to back down.

“When we say that the government is messy, that it improvises, that it does things on the corner of a table, well this morning, we have the perfect example with the private mini-hospitals”, unchecks the deputy Liberal and health critic, André Fortin.

“It seems to me that before launching a project like this, [il faut] measure the needs and see how the weaknesses of the current system can be overcome. Obviously, we swim in improvisation, ”he adds.

The Press revealed on Friday that major industry players were disappointed when the call for interest for the development of two mini-hospitals was published, one in the east of Montreal and the other in the Capital -National. Contrary to what had been promised in the campaign, the presence of an operating theater is no longer guaranteed. Quebec replies that he wants to keep all doors open at this stage.

However, without an operating theatre, these new establishments could look more like large medical clinics open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. family-network), launched in 2016 by the former Minister of Health, Gaétan Barrette, who at the time promised 50 across Quebec.

“The CAQ government has arrived [au pouvoir] by canceling the super-clinics that were to be set up everywhere in Quebec. About half had seen the light of day in 2018,” underlines André Fortin. ” [Le gouvernement Legault] realizes that maybe the model wasn’t that bad, but instead of doing 25, he’s going to do two. Why would we limit ourselves to two when the needs are felt everywhere, ”he says.

Mr. Barrette also qualified Friday the project of mini-hospitals of the Legault government of “political balloon” with a name “marketing”.

A promise that “deflates”

The Parti Québécois says for its part that it is a new CAQ promise that “deflates”.

“We are told, eight months later [les élections]that we don’t really know what we want […] and that the call for interest will allow us to define what we wanted to propose, but which was nevertheless very clear during the electoral campaign”, deplores the deputy and spokesperson for health, Joël Arseneau. He believes that this contributes to “undermining public confidence” in electoral commitments.

Mr. Arseneau is nevertheless encouraged that major surgery clinics intend to pass their turn. “It pleases me to see, up to a certain point, that the government’s call for interest does not create a bottleneck in the private sector because I want the public to be able to develop this project, like the Jeffery Hale precisely, ”continues the PQ MP.

Minister Christian Dubé cited the Jeffery Hale Minor Emergency Clinic in Quebec City as the inspiration for the mini-hospital model. This is an entirely public concept born of a pilot project of the CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale.

This example revives a fundamental question, according to Québec solidaire. Why need the private if the model works for the public? asks deputy Vincent Marissal. “Why would you compete with yourself by opening the door even wider to the private sector who will come and get your staff,” he says. According to him, this confirms that the CAQ has “a bias” for private health.

The hon. member for Rosemont is outright asking the government to abandon its commitment.

“In any case, there is no appetite, we are wasting precious time, we are putting resources into it and during this time, I remind you that we are not able to arrive with a concrete plan and a timetable for a public hospital called Maisonneuve-Rosemont, one of the largest hospitals in Quebec. It becomes really insulting for complete sections of the population, ”he denounces.

Reaching out from the Conservatives

François Legault made a commitment to set up two private mini-hospitals during the election campaign while he was hounded on his right by the Conservative Party of Éric Duhaime. The latter was also delighted with the aims of the Legault government in this area after a meeting with the Prime Minister, after the elections. Today, the Conservative troops believe that the project on the table lacks “scope”.

“If we do not include an operating theater with the possibility of a longer hospital stay, unfortunately we risk missing the boat”, expressed the former conservative candidate, the D^r Karim Elayoubi, who is himself the owner of a GMF. For the moment, he says he is “a good player” and “prefers to wait” for the launch of calls for tenders where the final details of the projects will be specified.

“Our proposals in terms of health are still much closer to the CAQ than to the three other parties, so it is certain that if the CAQ goes on our side with private health, we are happy. […] for such an important issue, I think we can collaborate,” adds the D^r Elayoubi.

Another ally of the CAQ for private health, the Montreal Economic Institute (IEDM), a right-wing think tank, for its part warned the Legault government.

“In the countryside, François Legault undertook to build two mini-hospitals, with operating rooms, not the “big clinics” desired by the MSSS. The government must work on the promised project, not a watered down version,” one wrote on Twitter. The parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Health and deputy Youri Chassin, who is in charge of the mini-hospital file, is also a former member of the MEI.