The Federal Minister of Health does not mince his words to name the problem: The health system is seriously ill … close to the intensive care unit.
He’s stating the obvious. Let’s understand that his current motivation for using swear words is to justify the conditions the federal government wants to impose on states in exchange for better funding.
Working in silos
Minister Duclos describes the problems of the health systems in the provinces from his point of view. We work in silos, information about the patient circulates poorly, platitudes are heard a hundred times over. These results are probably partly correct, but do not explain decades of living with a healthcare system that is still on the brink of crisis.
Note that it’s amusing when the federal government spokespeople teach management classes. If you make a fiasco managing a piece of paper, the passport, one might doubt that you will perform miracles with a system that treats thousands of the sick and dying.
If the Canadian minister is serious in his observation of the depth of the evil gnawing at our healthcare system, he needs to make a fundamental reflection. Above all, he cannot content himself with a few remarks about possible administrative shortcomings in individual provinces.
He has to put everything back on the table. He must be willing to question some of the sacred cows. Absolutely free, barriers to complementarity with the private sector, Canada’s Health Care Act itself must be part of the survey.
Canada made a pretty unique choice. Most advanced countries treat their people well, but with mixed public-private systems. If Canada’s very special choice was the right one, we should see it daily… (Note: no country has emulated Canada)
A plague
Let’s face it: Quebec’s healthcare system has been in crisis since the early 1990s, more than 30 years ago. Waiting is an ever worsening scourge. The patient is waiting in the emergency room, he is waiting for a doctor’s appointment, he is waiting for his surgery. This waiting time often exceeds the medically necessary time.
The situation is similar in the other provinces. For such a long period of time, there have been Liberal, Conservative, PQ, New Democracy, and CAQ governments in the provinces. All have failed.
Health minister after minister burned in all 10 provinces. Doctors, managers, experienced politicians, nobody could feel that they had solved the problems. Health is in a perpetual state of crisis.
When an issue remains this constant regardless of individuals or political parties, something may be wrong with its foundation.
Canada is probably at the point of creating a major commission of inquiry into health issues and putting everything back on the table.
Otherwise he should give the provinces the money as soon as possible to put out a few fires.
