Quebec health minister contemplates extending public funded surgery pilot project in private clinics

To meet acceptable surgery delays, in 2006 the Quebec government launched a pilot project, set to expire at the end of May, to allow publicly-funded doctors to perform one-day surgeries at three private clinics.

Now Quebec Health Minister Danielle McCann says she’s considering extending the pilot project after Dr. Dominique Synnott, general surgeon at Sacré Coeur Hospital, requested the project be made permanent due to a lack of hospital resources.

“Surgeries are cancelled every day in hospitals,” said Synnott.

According to Global News one of the clinics in the pilot project, Rockland MD, found in an internal survey that the majority of physicians participating in the project believe they are more productive when performing surgeries in private facilities.

Before making her recommendation to cabinet, McCann will complete her own analysis.