Dubé brings back hospital boards after being warned by former premiers

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Quebec Health Minister Christian Dubé tabled amendments to his network reform Tuesday, to bring boards of directors back within establishments. He says he wants to find a balance to protect foundations and the hundreds of millions of dollars they receive.

At a news briefing in Quebec City, Dubé explained that he had simmered on the compromise for a long time while he wanted to find a balance between coordinating establishments and maintaining their autonomy.

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Santé Québec would be mandated to coordinate and deploy best practices throughout the health network. The new institutional boards of directors would manage teaching, research and innovation activities in their facilities.

Files related to philanthropy would be entrusted to the presidents and CEOs with the support of a foundation linked to the establishment.

“Specifically, when it comes to research, university training, innovation, it’s clear that these people have decision-making power,” he said. “They will still report, but they have decision-making power, with the foundations, to choose the research they want to do.”

The minister confirmed having been approached by several former Quebec premiers in recent months, discussions that he described as “constructive.” The ex-premiers — Lucien Bouchard, Jean Charest, Philippe Couillard, Daniel Johnson, Pierre Marc Johnson and Pauline Marois — argued in an open letter to Legault Tuesday that “merging hospital centres and university institutes into a newly created Crown corporation will have a negative impact on these institutions, which play an essential role in Quebec society.”

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They, like many other influential figures in the business world, warned the minister against the risk of losing important donations by dismissing the boards of directors.

Among the criticisms raised were a risk of loss of identity of establishments, which could weaken their capacity to interest donors. The minister said he had heard the message and that he was “not ready to take this risk.”

Dubé defended his choice to limit the powers of boards of directors by referencing a need to put an end to management in silos. The creation of Santé Québec should promote better collaboration between establishments and institutions, he said. Conversely, boards of directors have a duty to protect their establishment before collaborating with others.

Although he welcomed the suggested changes, Parti Québécois health critic Joël Arseneau called it unfortunate that Dubé needed pressure from former premiers.

“It’s in line with what we’ve been asking for from the start. It’s a bit of a shame that the minister did not have confidence in the members of the committee who carried the voice of the regions to ensure that there is real decentralization and local decision-making power,” said Arseneau, who represents the Îles-de-la-Madeleine riding.

Canadian Press health coverage receives support through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. CP is solely responsible for this content.

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