Super-clinics: The FIQ demands Minister Barrette to make the agreement with the FMOQ public, an agreement that will enable doctors to make even more money off of patients and healthcare professionals
Unable to deliver on his campaign promise to open 50 super-clinics, Gaétan Barrette, once again gave into the president of the Fédération des omnipraticiens du Québec (FMOQ). In addition to lifting the super-clinic’s obligation to stay open 84 hours a week, the minister is allowing doctors to hire healthcare professionals outside of the CISSS and CIUSSS networks. This may seem like no big deal, but it could have dire consequences.
“Gaétan Barrette gives in to doctors once again. After agreeing to billions of dollars in salary increases, he is allowing doctors to get even richer, but this time, off of patients and healthcare professionals. The minister is further paving the way toward privatizing front-line care. After making cuts everywhere and impoverishing families, not to mention the fate of thousands of seniors, he is giving more of the Quebec population’s taxes to doctors,” said the President of the Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec – FIQ, Régine Laurent.
Loss of Control over Quality of Care
The FIQ knows these changes will impact the professional practices of nurses, licensed practical nurses and respiratory therapists. They will no longer report to the Ministry of Health but instead to doctors. So, once again, the quality of patient care and services will be affected by the liberal government’s decisions.
“Will the director of nursing for the CISSS and CIUSSS, in charge of the quality of care, still be accountable? Will the conditions of practice for the healthcare professionals be respected? Will doctors charge for care provided by private healthcare staff? These are questions which highlight several of our concerns and to which we still have no answers. This is precisely why the minister should be transparent and make this secret agreement with the FMOQ public,” stated Régine Laurent.
“Instead of allowing healthcare professionals to do more in front-line care, the minister wants to privatize it. He is taking us in the wrong direction. Instead of improving patient care, we are funding physician entrepreneurs. The minister knows the risks patients are facing so why is he doing this?” said the FIQ President.