There have been numerous reactions since the adoption of Bill 15 on health reform early Saturday morning in the National Assembly.
Obviously, elected officials from the opposition parties continued to denounce the use of a gag order to move forward expeditiously with this vast reform.
Elsewhere, however, reactions are more divided.
According to the Union of Professionals of the Government of Quebec (SPGQ), the Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, does not seem aware that he will not have the necessary personnel to carry out his reform which will lead to the creation of a new state corporation.
The president of the SPGQ, Guillaume Bouvrette, even believes that government professionals have no interest in going to work at Santé Québec, at least not in the current state of the transition that is expected for many employees of the Ministry of Health. Health.
“The minister is suggesting that the salaries of those transferred will be similar to Santé Québec, which is false. In fact, the ministry’s professional staff earn 7% to 14% more than those in the health network,” explained Mr. Bouvrette.
“This means that our members will receive half of the salary increases provided for in the collective agreement and the other half in lump sums until their salary at Santé Québec complies with the new agreement. This situation, which can continue for many years,” he lamented.
The Federation of Specialist Physicians of Quebec (FMSQ), for its part, reiterated “its concerns about a reform focused on the mixing of structures rather than on responding to the pressing needs of Quebec patients”.
The organization also regrets that some of its recommendations were not adopted.
“Beyond the method used by the government to force the adoption of its bill, we reiterate that we are very concerned about the consequences of this reform. It will lead to greater centralization and bureaucratization of our network at a time when accessibility to care remains lacking,” said the president of the FMSQ, Dr.r Vincent Oliva, via press release.
“An opportunity to break down the silos of the health network”
Others, however, view this vast reform of the health network with optimism.
This is the case of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Quebec (FCCQ) which considers that the adoption of Bill 15 creating the Santé Québec agency “constitutes an opportunity to finally break down the silos of the health network in order to promote interregional labor mobility and the adoption of innovative practices.”
“Employers in different regions have reason to rejoice with the announced arrival of network seniority. Finally, they will be able to recruit workers from outside their region whose spouse works in the health network, without being blocked by the fact that they must give up all their related privileges. to their seniority,” said Charles Milliard, president and CEO of the FCCQ.
The federation, however, is concerned about certain powers granted to the new agency and expects that there will be guidelines to properly regulate it.
For its part, the Association of Managers of Health and Social Services Establishments (AGESSS) welcomes with nuance the adoption of Bill No. 15 (PL15), An Act aimed at making the health and social services system more effective.
“AGESSS welcomes the government’s efforts to improve the efficiency of the health and social services network […] However, we are sorry that our recommendation to create a Council of Local Managers went unheeded. This was mainly aimed at ensuring that managers were consulted throughout the transition leading to the creation of the Santé Québec agency so that it proceeds without pitfalls,” declared the president and CEO of the AGESSS, Danielle Girard.
“It is also with concern that AGESSS noted that the bill has not been amended in order to define the powers of direct intervention of the Minister in the daily management of establishments in the health and services network social […] The minister and his ministry should concentrate on determining the directions and not intervene in the management of the network,” his press release also indicates.
AGESSS represents more than 8,300 active managers in the health and social services network.