Press release

“New CHUM being sold off piecemeal to the private sector”

Montreal, September 4, 2008 – The new Centre hospitalier de l’université de Montréal (or CHUM) has not even seen the light of day and yet solutions are already having to be found to anticipated problems. The CHUM administration is so conscious of this fact that it is opening the door to additional private projects. The news that a private health complex will be developed opposite the new CHUM echoes the statements made by the Fédération des médecins spécialistes du Québec (the FMSQ) concerning the numerous problems surrounding the CHUM facilities planned at 1000 Saint-Denis.

“The announcement of this private project confirms what we recently said publicly, and we are convinced that there are other private projects that will take advantage of the CHUM’s problems,” stated Dr. Gaétan Barrette, President of the FMSQ. “Even worse, such projects have the blessing of the CHUM administration”.

Barrette has received a wide-ranging reaction from his members who are outraged to see their administration trade the essential needs of a teaching hospital for a hospital that will not be up to standard on the very day of its opening and that will result in access to specialized care being less than optimal. “We know today that the CHUM administration is selling off the new CHUM piecemeal to private projects, and this is unacceptable”, said the Federation President.

In the FMSQ’s opinion, it is imperative that the future CHUM meet five criteria that are mandatory for any self-respecting teaching hospital that meets and applies recognized standards for hospitals of the same size throughout the world.

• It must be large enough with, in particular, a critical mass of beds and appropriate technical facilities to meet patients’ future needs.
• It must be able to attract and retain hospital staff.
• It must be accessible to all patients, who will be coming not only from Montreal but from all over Quebec.
• It must combine, in a nearby location, university teaching and training not only for future physicians but for all health care professionals.
• It must be able to ensure its ongoing future development.

“Quebec deserves a teaching hospital with a capacity and characteristics comparable to those found elsewhere in the world. The FMSQ appeals to the good sense of all political parties at both the Quebec and municipal level to build a university hospital of which we can still be proud in 10, 20 or 30 years’ time”.

The Fédération des médecins spécialistes du Québec numbers more than 8,000 members in Quebec, representing 35 medical specialties. It is the sole organization recognized by government with respect to negotiating medical specialists' collective agreements, and is also consulted on all aspects of the organization of medical care in Quebec.

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