For many years, reports have pointed to the great fragility of our health network. The pandemic has only amplified its flaws and highlighted the pressing need to reform it.
Posted at 12:00 p.m.
Several governments have tried to initiate reforms, with difficulty. If there is a lesson to be learned from the past, it is that each time, these attempts have failed at the deployment stage.
To achieve this, a change of culture is necessary. It is necessary to meet people working in the field and involve them in discussions aimed at building the health system of tomorrow.
By reaching out to doctors, nurses, attendants and other players in the network who face the challenges presented by our health system on a daily basis, we could take the pulse of the reality on the ground and develop, together, new responses to unmet social needs.
Beyond the health professionals, we believe that this change in culture cannot take place without the contribution of the users of the network and their allies, the caregivers. According to the Ministry of Health and Social Services, the latter would provide 85% of care for the elderly.
Care that would cost between 4 and 10 billion dollars if they were taken care of by health professionals.
In Quebec, some 1,489,000 take care of a parent, child, friend or neighbor suffering from a disability. Their role in the health network and maintaining the social safety net is invaluable. Through their commitment to their loved one, they develop an in-depth knowledge of their needs, their difficulties and their state of health, which ultimately allows for better care. They are essential partners in the patient-doctor-carer triad.
But respite, they have little, if any. To help them rest and catch their breath, the Foundation of the Federation of Medical Specialists of Quebec has supported, since its inception, organizations across the province that offer them respite.
Much progress has been made over the past 10 years for the cause of caregivers. To reflect this evolution, medical specialists in Quebec wish to contribute more to the recognition, support and development of close care resources.
Because we firmly believe that the overhaul of our health system requires local initiatives, our foundation is embarking on a shift to strengthen our ties and our presence in the field.
To do this, we are starting, among other things, a social innovation exercise in collaboration with caregivers.
Accompanied by leading organizations in the field, our desire is to get closer to the various actors in close care and to offer them the space so that they contribute positively to the reflections which will forge their reality of tomorrow.
Reforming the health system is a major challenge. Changing the culture in place takes time. We humbly believe that the approach we are taking with the cause we support is a first step towards new elements of response.