Published September 27, 2024

Dimitris Ilias, LJI Journalist

Quebec is preparing to entrust more surgeries to private clinics, with the government set to add around twenty new procedures to the list of those reimbursed by the province’s public healthcare system. This decision, spearheaded by the Ministry of Health, aims to accelerate the reduction of the surgery backlog that has lingered since the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to information from Quebec’s parliamentary sources, a new regulation is expected to be announced, which will include procedures related to the feet, face, digestive system, gynecology, and urology. These surgeries, currently performed in the public sector, will soon be available at specialized medical centers free of charge for patients. The new initiative expands on an existing framework where private clinics have been performing a variety of surgeries since 2016, including hip, knee, and cataract procedures. Now, additional surgeries will be shifted to the private sector to alleviate pressure on Quebec’s overstretched public healthcare system.

In neighborhoods like Parc-Extension, where many residents rely on public healthcare, the news has sparked conversations about the accessibility of quality care. For many, the expansion of private clinics’ roles in providing surgeries raises concerns about the long-standing gaps in the public system, which have been further exposed since the pandemic. Between 2021 and 2023, roughly 115,000 operations were directed to private clinics. One example is the DIX30 Surgery Clinic, which, at the height of the pandemic, received $51 million to help Quebec’s government offload some of the public sector’s burden.

If the new regulation goes into effect, private clinics will be authorized to perform additional surgeries. These include procedures to remove kidney stones and joint replacements for the shoulder, elbow, or wrist. Other newly eligible operations involve nasal realignments (septoplasty), ear surgeries to relieve pressure, and the removal of fallopian tubes (salpingectomy), among others. These additions were developed in consultation with Quebec’s Federation of Medical Specialists and the College of Physicians, with the goal of streamlining services and relieving the overtaxed public system.

The government hopes this shift will help manage the overwhelming demand for surgeries. However, the exact number of operations that can be moved to private clinics is still unclear, as the medical centers will need to determine which procedures are financially viable for them to offer. Health Minister Christian Dubé has been working to address the surgery backlog, which has persisted for over a year. As of February, 12,221 operations had been waiting beyond the targeted timeline, with the goal to reduce that number to 2,500 by the end of the year. By late August, 10,900 patients were still on the waiting list.

The expansion of the private sector’s role includes surgeries like orthopedic procedures, nasal realignments, digestive system treatments, gynecological surgeries, and urological operations, such as prostate and bladder tumor resections and kidney stone removal. For areas like Parc-Extension, where access to timely healthcare is critical for its diverse population, this change raises hopes of shorter wait times for essential surgeries. However, concerns remain about whether the public health system can fully recover and meet the needs of all communities.

As Quebec continues to balance its healthcare strategy, the integration of private clinics into a broader system could offer relief to some, but it also highlights the ongoing challenges facing the public sector, particularly in areas with high demand for services like Parc-Extension.

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