Press release

Lévis 2010 Economy Meeting:

Health Totally Ignored in Discussions

Montreal, January 20, 2010 – Even though health accounts for an ever-increasing portion of the Quebec Government’s budget and pressure on public finances will inevitably follow suit, particularly with an aging population, this issue was excluded from the Charest government’s 2010 Economic Meeting. “Predicting what will happen in 20 years’ time seems surreal at a time when the state of public finances calls for concrete action today,” declared Dr. Gaétan Barrette, President of the Fédération des médecins spécialistes du Québec (FMSQ).

The Federation had asked to be present at this meeting, but its request was refused by the Prime Minister’s Office.  “Medical specialists are in the best position to identify problems and solutions relating to the management of the Quebec government health system, particularly with regard to improved productivity. Productivity goes hand in hand with savings,” continued Barrette. Pointing out that the government was only too glad to take credit publicly for the positive results generated by the tour of operating rooms initiated by the FMSQ, the Federation’s president explained that “when it is good for the government’s image, we are partners; otherwise, we are not considered worth inviting – a very distressing attitude.”

Recalling the Prime Minister’s desire to take a hands-on approach, the Federation also noted that for months now the government has been engaged in depicting Quebec’s economic and financial situation as so serious that it demands choices be made for the immediate future and for the coming years.

“Curiously enough, today’s problems are basically those which have already been widely documented over the past 25 years in reports ordered from experts, groups and committees, always at the taxpayer’s expense. Since the Gobeil report in 1986, at least 12 reports have been ordered on Quebec’s economic and fiscal issues, including health. Yet, a quarter century on, they’re still meeting,” concluded Dr. Barrette.

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.