The financing of Quebec’s health care system.

Waiting lists for medical services in Canada are painfully long. Too many Canadians lack access to a family doctor, and our low ratio of medical specialists to population size is a growing cause of concern. Could this problem be partly solved by making better use of the supply of medical specialists’ work through mixed practice? To get an answer, the Montreal Economic Institute (MEI) conducted a survey among medical specialists to find out if some of them might be willing to work extra hours in the private sector, beyond their commitment to the public system.

Health care reform in Canada.

Health care reform in Canada.

Health care reform in Canada.

The reserve supply of nursing staff time.

Demographic change is putting a heavy strain on Quebec’s public health care system. In particular, this is reflected in a greater need for nursing staff. Meanwhile, many nurses are opting to practise their profession with employment agencies and in the private sector, causing fears of a weakening of the public sector. The Montreal Economic Institute conducted an investigation among nurses to see if the labour supply is really being used to full capacity and whether some nurses would be willing to work extra hours in private practice.

In public policy matters, debates on the health care system are, beyond a doubt, those that cause the greatest controversy. In Quebec, as elsewhere in Canada, the issue of what role should be entrusted to the private sector in the provision of health care services is especially problematic. This is indicated by the strong reactions to the recently published report of the Task Force on the Funding of the Health System, chaired by Claude Castonguay, which some blamed for suggesting a greater participation of private providers as a way toward solving the health care system’s problems.

Reaction to the Castonguay report on health care financing.

Reaction to the Castonguay report on health care financing.