Facilitating access to social services and health care remains a real headache. Waiting lists for an appointment with a health professional, a surgical procedure or a diagnostic test have reached unacceptable heights. Santé Québec does its best to increase productivity, cooperation and complementarity of efforts between different stakeholders by, for example, promoting local services and the help of artificial intelligence, and avoiding unnecessary duplication.
The aging of the population, the continued emergence of new therapies and care in aesthetics, sports medicine and mental health are increasing demand.
The crux of the problem, in my opinion, is the shortage of skilled labor, caregivers and support for community groups and volunteers. Certainly, there are 2,000 doctors missing, but there are also several other stakeholders missing. The number of students admitted to college and university programs in physical and mental health should be significantly increased. We should also encourage the arrival of labor from abroad and offer health workers acceptable working conditions to convince them not to leave the ship despite the storms.
Canceling surgeries because there is a lack of instrumentalists or perfusionists is unacceptable, as is not providing basic care to a person with severe loss of autonomy.
We will not be able to solve the puzzle if we do not have the missing pieces that are the different players in the provision of care in sufficient numbers, whether at home, in a CLSC, in a CHSLD, in an RPA, in telemedicine or in the emergency room and in a tertiary hospital center.
It is also up to INESS, INSPQ and professional orders to ensure that the precious actions practiced by healthcare workers are truly useful, relevant and indicated.
date: 2026-02-09 05:07:00