Liberal health spokesperson André Fortin considers the number of canceled surgeries in Quebec “alarming”, particularly in Outaouais where his riding is located. He is demanding from the Minister of Health Christian Dubé a “specific plan adapted to the regions” which will guarantee access to care throughout the province. The minister responsible for Outaouais, Mathieu Lacombe, retorts that the government is taking action, but that it cannot resolve in “three or four years” the underfunding in health “which has existed for decades” in his region. .
The duty revealed Tuesday that at least 12,000 surgeries were canceled in Quebec between September and the end of January. In Outaouais, 811 were during this period, or 24% of planned interventions, indicates the regional CISSS. The “lack of resources” explains “largely” these postponements, according to the health establishment.
“24% of surgeries are canceled in Outaouais. 24%! With all that this means for patients,” exclaimed André Fortin on the X platform (previously called Twitter).
In a statement sent to Duty, the member for Pontiac asserts that “no one should be left waiting when their well-being is at stake.” “The health of citizens must be an absolute priority,” he continues, specifying that his party has been asking the Minister of Health “for a very long time” for a specific plan for the regions.
Asked about the large number of canceled surgeries in Outaouais, Minister Mathieu Lacombe recalled that the region for which he is responsible has a particular situation due to its location, close to Ottawa. “There is often a flight of personnel because salaries are historically higher in Ontario than in Quebec, so that means we have a more pronounced labor shortage,” he said during the a press scrum at the National Assembly. We have fewer resources to provide care. »
Mathieu Lacombe affirms that his government is “taking steps” to improve the situation. “Now, are we able to resolve the underfunding in health in the Outaouais which has occurred for decades in three or four years? No, but it is being done. » He indicates that the negotiations with health personnel also aim to “be able to arrive with differentiated offers, differentiated salaries depending, in particular, on the regions. »
With the collaboration of François Carabin