(Quebec) The Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) still does not know if it will respect its 2018 electoral promise to be taken care of in the emergency room within 90 minutes.
Posted at 7:10 p.m. Updated at 9:33 p.m.
Caroline Plante Canadian press
Under the study of budgetary credits of the Ministry of Health on Tuesday, neither minister Christian Dubé, nor the CEO of Health Quebec, Geneviève Biron, were able to answer the question of the Liberal André Fortin.
Photo Marco Campanozzi, Archives La Presse
The CEO of Health Quebec, Geneviève Biron
The elected representative of Pontiac pointed out that in the date of Tuesday morning, the wait for the emergency room of Gatineau hospital was 8 hours 23 minutes. Average waiting at the province is 2 hours 46 minutes.
-The CAQ had however made the firm commitment to bring the average wait for the emergency room to 90 minutes. This target was to be reached in 2022-2023, but in its most recent strategic plan, the Ministry of Health postponed it to 2026-2027.
However, Minister Dubé was incapable on Tuesday to guarantee that the target will indeed be reached on time. He argued that emergency visits have increased in the last year due in particular to the aging of the population.
“We will continue to measure this. I think that’s what Quebecers ask us, “he said.
“I do not agree with you when you say that Quebecers ask you to measure this. Quebecers ask you to improve the thing, ”said Fortin. “What happens happens,” concluded Mr. Dubé on a philosophical note.
For his part, Mme Biron said that a “uniform result” could not be expected through Quebec. The goal of the 90 minutes remains a “beautiful target” to “keep in mind,” she said.
In the meantime, minor cases must go see their doctor rather than presenting themselves to the emergency room, said the minister. Quebec is currently negotiating with doctors to renew the framework agreement which defines their working conditions.
“If we do not solve the problem upstream of the emergency, people will continue to go there, so there must be a better care, not only in emergency, but by doctors,” he said.
