Quebec's health-care reform plan draws backlash from stakeholders
Quebec's sweeping new health-care plan—Bill 15—drew mixed reaction following its announcement Wednesday.
Several health-care professionals say it's a massive undertaking—especially for a health minister who initially said he didn't want reform.
"Big reforms tend to have a very destabilizing effect, and we need a clear implementation plan. [We] can't be told, 'do this and figure it out,'"said Natalie Stake-Doucet, past president of the Quebec Nurses Association.
"It has to be clear how this is going to take place, how these changes are going to be made step by step."
The bill aims to create Santé Québec, an agency responsible for coordinating the day-to-day operations of the health and social services network.
Some medical professionals say this leads to further centralization and not actual local governance.
"It's still going to be a little top-down as far as I can see because they're going to have to report not to a board or board members but to Santé Québec, so I'm a bit suspicious," said Ann Marie Chiquette, interim general director at APER, which advocates for management in the health and social services sector.
Family physician Dr. Paul Saba is also concerned with the centralization of the health-care network. He has fought with the government for several years to keep the Lachine Hospital open.
"They say they want to improve it, it seems like they do want to improve it, but are they going to use their control to scrap smaller community hospitals and take their resources?" he said. "We question really what their authenticity is."
Bill 15 states the right of every person to receive "adequate, continuous, personalized and safe" health care.
One patients' rights advocate says she will wait and see if it actually helps patients get better access to care.
"Our health-care system has to ensure that there is socio-culturally safe and equitable health care to all Quebecers," said Seeta Ramdass, member of the Montreal Children's Hospital family advisory forum.
The reform needs to reflect the diverse population of Quebec and remove all barriers to care, says Ramdass.
"Make sure that you remove those language barriers so that patients can have access to care in the language that they speak, that they understand," she said.
Advocates of all groups say the bill needs to avoid taking a one-size-fits-all approach to ensure the reform's success.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
'Tactical evacuations' underway near Fort Nelson, B.C., as wildfires encroach
The BC Wildfire Service says 'tactical evacuations' began Friday near Fort Nelson, B.C., due to an out-of-control wildfire that has grown rapidly since it was discovered earlier in the afternoon.
Snowbirds in Vancouver for puck-drop flyby as Canucks face Oilers
The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will be performing a flyover across downtown Vancouver at the start of tonight's Stanley Cup playoff game between the Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Video shows naked raccoon catching B.C. family by surprise
When Marvin Henschel spotted a strange and hairless creature wandering through a front lawn in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, he could barely believe his eyes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.