(Quebec) “Dunce” in terms of public health investments, Quebec must catch up with other Canadian provinces, according to the Association pour la santé publique du Québec (ASPQ), which is calling for increased funding a billion more per year.
The observation of the ASPQ is clear: “the addition of patients in the health system will lead to its loss”. To “remedy the crisis” of the health network and “adapt to the aging of the population”, the annual budget dedicated to public health must be increased, pleads the ASPQ.
“We must ensure that prevention and health promotion become the cornerstone of our system,” says ASPQ executive director Thomas Bastien. And there are many projects: healthy eating, lifestyle, prevention of chronic diseases…
The Association, supported by public health experts, is demanding that the Legault government increase the budget envelope for public health by one billion more per year. Their request was reaffirmed at the Sustainable Health Summit, which was held in Quebec at the end of January.
“Quebec, in comparison with the other provinces, is a dunce when it comes to public health investments,” underlines Mr. Bastien.
According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, from 2004 to 2019, the Quebec government allocated an average of 2.2% of the health budget to public health, while the Canadian average is 5.4%.
This means that 98% of the sums invested in the health network are invested in treating illness and that approximately 2% are invested in preventing illness, which is very, very minimal.
Thomas Bastien, general manager of the ASPQ
In 2021, Quebec was still lagging behind, with an investment of 2.4% compared to 6% for the provinces of Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. In dollars, this is an investment of $190 per inhabitant, while the national average is $428 per citizen.
These data are cited in the brief submitted by the ASPQ as part of the pre-budget consultations, in anticipation of the next Girard budget.
“Recent Investments”
Last year, as part of the budget, Quebec invested $235.9 million over four years to “enhance preventive health interventions”.
“Since our arrival, we have made additional recurring investments of more than 200 million, it’s unheard of,” retorted Monday the office of the Minister of Health, Christian Dubé.
“As part of our Health Plan, we have also adopted a Government Health Prevention Policy by investing additional sums of more than 40 million dollars”, we added, recalling “the cuts” of the Liberal government.
“We have chosen to make the necessary catch-up in the budgets in order to support the essential work of these experts”, indicates Minister Dubé’s office.
The ASPQ estimates that the shortfall to catch up (reach 5% of the health budget) is approximately 1.5 billion per year. Nevertheless, the demand is estimated at 1 billion per year.
In her report on care and services for the elderly during the pandemic, tabled a year ago, the Health and Welfare Commissioner, Joanne Castonguay, also notes that Quebec is one of the states that spends least per capita in public health.
Mme Castonguay also recommends that the Legault government “enhance the capacities of the public health system […] at least at a level comparable to what is observed elsewhere in Canada and even internationally” and to “strengthen its strategic role”.
In January 2022, the ASPQ, accompanied by the former independent deputy Sylvain Roy, presented their request to the National Assembly.
