(Quebec) Deploring “inconsistencies” in the presentation of the dashboard and a “questionable revision” of certain indicators, the Parti Québécois (PQ) asks the National Assembly to examine the “management and transparency” of data in health.
“The government, in its dashboard, clearly embellishes reality,” accuses the spokesperson for the third opposition group on health, Joël Arseneau.
The Parti Québécois tasked its research team with analyzing the data presented in the dashboard launched by Minister Christian Dubé in May 2022, the recent annual management reports and the strategic plans of the Ministry of Health and Social Services ( MSSS).
The analysis made it possible to “demonstrate inconsistencies” between the different strategic plans, such as “changes in indicators, a questionable revision of certain targets, in addition to disturbing changes to the presentation of data in the dashboard”, according to Mr. Arseneau.
He asks that the National Assembly look into the issue by entrusting the Health and Social Services Commission – a parliamentary commission – with an initiative mandate on “the management and transparency of data on the performance of the health network. health “.
The MP wishes to hear from the Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, his colleagues Lionel Carmant (Social Services) and Sonia Bélanger (Seniors), the Deputy Minister of Health, Daniel Paré, and other “independent experts in governance , analysis and publication of data”.
Access and first line
Mr. Arseneau deplores the modification of the targets for the waiting time for emergency treatment and the average length of stay on a stretcher (DMS). The Legault government has postponed its 2018 electoral commitment to being treated in emergencies within 90 minutes for a third term. The target of 14 hours on a stretcher has also been postponed to 2026-2027.
In the dashboard, the trend is green for the DMS, but this does not take this modification into account, denounces the MP. He also notes that the targets to be achieved are no longer found on the highlights page of the dashboard, but rather under the tabs for each sector.
The situation has not improved and, in some cases, has even deteriorated, yet the red lights have turned into green lights.
Joël Arseneau, member of the Parti Québécois
Mr. Arseneau also emphasizes that the Legault government measured, before the implementation of the Front Line Access Center (GAP), the population with access to a family doctor.
The target in the MSSS 2019-2023 strategic plan was indeed the number of Quebecers registered with a family doctor, while in the following plan, we instead measure the percentage of people assigned to a “professional or care team front line” while keeping the same starting measurement.
“If we change the indicators, we can no longer compare apples with oranges, as the Prime Minister says so well, and it becomes impossible to judge the performance of the network and the government compared to previous governments,” argues he.
In light of its analysis, the Parti Québécois wonders “more fundamentally” if “the Ministry is best placed to evaluate its performance”. Questions that the National Assembly could explore in parliamentary committee, he believes. According to him, the analysis of the network’s performance should instead be entrusted to a “neutral third party” such as the Commissioner for Health and Welfare.