(Quebec) The “vast decentralization” of the health network promised Tuesday by the Legault government must take place without “rebranding of structures”, say stakeholders in the field. For its part, the Federation of general practitioners warns Quebec that “to impose” a solution on family physicians “would give catastrophic results” on the ground.
The 20 months of the pandemic have shown the “limits” of the health system in Quebec, admitted Prime Minister François Legault in his opening speech. The changes he wishes to make to his network, one year before the general elections, will also be the “most important project” of the last year of his mandate.
Quebec intends to “decentralize” its health network to “the regions and sub-regions”, which suggests that the Barrette reform would be revised. “Whether in the private or public sector, it has been shown that effective management starts with decentralization,” said the Prime Minister.
“The people who are best placed to choose the best means to achieve these objectives are the people who are on the ground, the people who are close to the action,” added Mr. Legault.
Carole Trempe, CEO of the Association of Senior Health and Social Services Executives, believes that this decentralization is “good news” since, “if budgets follow, the more we allow regions to have influence, the better ”. Mme Trempe believes, however, that this decentralization must be done “without rebranding of structures”. “That, we had lunch-dinner-supper,” she illustrated.
For the Interprofessional Health Federation (FIQ), the priority is not to engage in a “new reform”.
“This is worrying,” said the organization’s interim president, Nathalie Lévesque.
Why we are not in solutions mode in the structure we currently have […] rather than go back to the past?
Nathalie Lévesque, Interim President of the Interprofessional Health Federation
Despite the government’s intentions, the FIQ says it has the impression that the government has “been pushing against the tide” of the unions since the start of the pandemic.
“Breaking free” from agencies
Believing that the health network is “dependent on private agencies”, Mr. Legault said he wanted to “get rid of it”. He said he was working on a “breakdown mechanism from the public network” to avoid resorting to agencies. On this subject, the Association of private companies of nursing personnel of Quebec (EPPSQ) indicated that details were to be brought to it by Quebec on Wednesday.
According to the president of the Federation of Health and Social Services (FSSS-CSN), Jeff Begley, several of the elements raised in the Prime Minister’s speech “have been requested by the FSSS for years”. The decentralization of the network and the elimination of private agencies are part of it.
Family physicians stung
Mr. Legault made no secret of his impatience with family physicians. “I always thought it was best to get along with the doctors. But if necessary, we will not hesitate to impose a conclusion, ”he warned.
PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, ARCHIVES THE PRESS
Mr. Legault did not hide his impatience with family doctors during his opening speech of the new parliamentary session.
The president of the Federation of general practitioners of Quebec (FMOQ), Dr Louis Godin, warns the Legault government that to favor a way other than that of a negotiated agreement, by imposing a law for example, would be “the worst option”.
It would only have perverse effects which will give catastrophic results, that is clear.
The Dr Louis Godin, President of the Federation of General Practitioners of Quebec
According to Quebec, an agreement with the FMOQ is one of the keys “to unclog emergencies” and offer better access to front-line services, two commitments of the Legault government.
Mandate for home care
Mr. Legault stressed that “the number of people aged 75 and over will double within 20 years”. In addition to building seniors’ homes, the government wants to “do more for seniors who want and can stay at home.”
He mandates the Commissioner for Health and Welfare, Joanne Castonguay, to look into the issue and make recommendations. According to the FADOQ Network, Quebec is “missing the boat” while “no action to immediately improve home care” has been taken.
François Legault reiterated his intention to contract private CHSLDs “to ensure quality care for the elderly”, which was praised by the Association of private long-term establishments of Quebec.