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Longueuil – The APTS (Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux) welcomes a number of aspects of the policy on primary care and services unveiled by the health minister today. Among other things, the union supports the decision to make professionals and technicians into key players again and to restore the role of CLSCs as Quebecers’ main gateway.

The APTS is worried, however, by the lack of clear governance and the fact that funding falls short of the stated ambitions. Without these crucial elements, there is a risk that primary care will remain fragile and that CLSCs will be reduced to providing triage for family medicine groups, pharmacies or self-care, without being in a position to take full responsibility for overall care.

“We’re in favour of decentralizing care and services by moving them to CLSCs, as long as CLSCs are given appropriate funding as well as the power and ability to play their role to the full,” said APTS president Robert Comeau. “With the right resources, professionals and technicians in the health and social services system can really improve primary care. But if there’s no real will to put CLSCs at the centre of services, these institutions may just become a disembodied intermediary that moves services users from one point to another without taking full responsibility for their care.”

The APTS welcomes the decision to abandon a system in which people register exclusively with family physicians, since this model has not produced the desired results. Acknowledging that other professionals must play a more significant role is also an important step, but the APTS is waiting to see if it will take concrete form on the ground. The union also notes that employees who take on increased responsibilities must see this reflected in their working conditions.

In order for the reform to achieve its objectives, the APTS emphasizes the need to make sure that organizations representing employees are involved in developing the action plan that Santé Québec must now produce. This collaboration, which was possible during the preparatory work carried out under the guidance of the health and social services ministry, must now continue.

“Primary care won’t be able to develop without the direct involvement of the professionals and technicians who work to provide it on a daily basis,” said APTS vice-president Carl Verreault. “Santé Québec must work with us to develop its action plan. For this policy to succeed, orientations have to be associated with resources, time, and support for employees – not with an increase in pressure or a shift towards the private sector.”

The APTS is calling for a solid and transparent action plan that is associated with clear financial commitments and that is genuinely aligned with realities on the ground. Only if we truly take charge of revitalizing the public system will we succeed in providing better primary care through improved continuity, quality and access.

The APTS

The APTS (Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux) represents more than 68,000 members who play a key role in ensuring that health and social services institutions run smoothly. Our members provide a wide range of services for all Quebecers, including diagnostic, rehabilitation, nutrition, psychosocial intervention, clinical support, and prevention services.