Concerns have been raised by experts regarding the Quebec government’s proposition to consolidate two prominent health agencies as part of a broader initiative to streamline operations and enhance governmental efficiency.
Presented last month by Treasury Board President France-Élaine Duranceau, Bill 7 aims to generate $35 million in savings primarily through the elimination of 220 full-time positions, including approximately 100 within the healthcare sector.
The bill entails merging the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ) and the Institut national d’excellence en santé et en services sociaux (INESSS) into a new unified institute.
Under the proposal, the activities of the three INSPQ medical biology laboratories would transition to Santé Québec, while the responsibilities of organ and tissue donation coordination currently overseen by Transplant Québec would be assigned to Héma-Québec.
Nevertheless, not everyone is in agreement with the plan. Olivier Jacques, a health policy professor at Université de Montréal, has expressed reservations to the government, questioning the potential trade-offs between savings and the impact on services, considering the distinct roles each agency fulfills.
“We struggle to discern the policymakers’ intentions in this matter,” Jacques conveyed to CBC News. “There is limited money to be saved, minimal efficiency gains to be achieved, and conversely, significant implications for public health in the province as a whole.”
Quoting the adage, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” Jacques emphasized his skepticism towards the consolidation.
Challenges Unveiled Amid Pandemic
In a recent statement, Duranceau’s office asserted that the merger is essential to address deficiencies brought to light during the COVID-19 crisis.
“The pandemic underscored the limitations of a fragmented model where inadequate coordination between the two institutes impeded swift on-the-ground responses,” the statement highlighted.
By amalgamating these specialized areas, the government aims to enhance operational efficiency, clarify responsibilities, and better align with the current and future needs of the healthcare system.
“The government’s objective remains to uphold the core missions of both entities, which are highly complementary,” the statement emphasized.
Furthermore, it acknowledged the concerns raised by senior officials at INSPQ during parliamentary consultations, indicating that interdepartmental teams are assessing the submitted briefs to determine if adjustments are needed to enhance the bill.
Expert Warns of Neglecting Preventive Care
Jacques cast doubt on the notion that the merger would enhance efficiency.
His colleague, Nathalie Clavel, an assistant professor focusing on health services management at Université de Montréal, shares similar reservations.
Both experts voiced their apprehensions before a parliamentary committee regarding the bill, citing issues like service fragmentation and reduced emphasis on preventive care.
In a subsequent interview with CBC News, Jacques highlighted concerns about potential loss of expertise and focus on prevention, particularly with the transfer of research and INSPQ labs to Santé Québec.
He stressed that public health revolves around enhancing long-term population health, contrasting the acute nature of healthcare issues in the present.
“I am genuinely worried that budgets would disproportionately favor the curative functions associated with INESSS at