$1.5B in health cuts will affect patient care, Quebec medical specialists say

The Fédération des médecins spécialisé du Québec (FMSQ) is calling for an immediate moratorium on budget cuts in the health network affecting direct services to patients.

It wants an analysis “of each budget cut to assess the real impacts on the quality and access to care.”

“It’s not complicated. What we want is to get the facts straight and we want to make sure there will be no impact on patients,” said FMSQ president Dr. Vincent Oliva at a press conference in Montreal Thursday. “We will never accept that these cuts are made on the backs of patients.”

Accompanied by FMSQ vice-president Dr. Serge Legault, Oliva denounced the cuts that health institutions are beginning to implement in order to eliminate $1.5 billion in expenses to restore a balanced budget in the network.

“The government says that there won’t be any impact on patients, but that’s not what we see in the healthcare network we see a lot of cuts in personnel and with impacts on care,” said Dr. Oliva.

“If they cut more than they’re doing right now I won’t be able to treat my patients,” added Dr. Legault.

Dr. Legault listed a few examples to illustrate the effects of budget cuts on patients. The FMSQ believes these cuts “will worsen an already critical situation, further limiting access to care.”

“We’re worried that there’s gonna be less visits, less exams, less treatments,” said Dr. Oliva. “The core of our message is that we’re asking the government to not proceed with these cuts and that they reevaluate and then come back with a game plan.”

Contrary to what the François Legault government says, it “is not true” that the decisions have no impact and that they are minimal on care, argued Dr. Oliva.

Last week, Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé acknowledged that cutting $1.5 billion could impact services, but that efforts will be made to minimize it. 

Dubé spoke to reporters at the National Assembly in Quebec City on Thursday.

“What I’ve asked all the managers to do is to say that we’re facing budget issues, and that some establishments have exceeded their budgets, so be good managers,” said Dubé. “What I’m asking of the FMSQ, I just want to be clear, it’s not up to them to manage the network, they have to be there for the patients and they have to sit down. I don’t want patients to be held hostage during negotiations.”

The FMSQ is also demanding a complete rigorous analysis of each budget reduction to assess its impacts on the quality and access to care and clear communication with the population.

If things don’t improve, they say patients will suffer.

“It’s important for us to have a clear plan with the minister and let’s stop considering health as a budget measure, health is something else,” said Dr. Oliva.

Dr. Legault added that all levels of practices in a hospital setting will be affected. Oliva said they won’t be able to cut the budgets without affecting the patients.

“So far we’ve not heard any clear plan from them, so we’re hoping that they’re gonna be able to explain how they’re going to go through that difficult period with those budgetary cuts,” said Dr. Oliva.

“The doctors can say whatever they want, but if patients die on the waiting lists the patients are going to tell the minister, this is not on us. Don’t view us as possibilities to save money,” said Dr. Legault.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews