Quebec will maintain the vaccination centers created during the pandemic and will open new clinics for specialized nurses in order to unclog hospitals. To deal with the mental health crisis, the Girard budget only provides an additional $27 million this year.
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The Minister of Health will have his work cut out for him, while his colleague in Finance has just given him the means to carry out his network reform announced a year ago.
The 2023-2024 financial year forecasts a significant increase of 7.7% for the mammoth of health, compared to last year.
Thus, $272 million will be devoted to sustaining the vaccination centres, which will see their role expanded to include front-line care.
“He might, for example, in these vaccination and screening centers, take blood samples in the future”, illustrated the Minister of Finance, Eric Girard. We can also think of urine tests and annual vaccination campaigns for the flu (influenza).
To make these centers work, Quebec plans to keep workers recruited via I contribute.
Quebec will also invest $50 million this year to open 6 new clinics managed by specialized nurse practitioners. Within five years, 23 new establishments are planned.
Election promises
The Legault government is taking advantage of the budget to materialize two election promises: $26 million will go this year to the creation of the “Votre santé” platform, which will make it possible to make an appointment with a health professional.
Helicopter transport for patients in remote areas will also be implemented, as promised last year.
An envelope of $700 million is also planned to make up for the backlog in surgeries caused by the pandemic. Quebec aims to increase their number from 20,000 to 3,000 by the end of 2024.
Little new money in mental health
During his visit to Amqui following the ram truck attack last week, Premier François Legault announced his intention to act in the field of mental health. “We need to do more,” he said.
A similar tragedy in Laval and the multiplication of incidents show the need for additional investments.
Some $27 million will be invested to add services this year, for a total of $139 million over five years. Disappointed, the deputy of Quebec solidaire, Christine Labrie, described the amount as “powder in the eyes”.
The amount may seem modest, given the needs, but the Minister of Finance argues that $ 1.3 billion has already been announced since 2020.
