Deficit at the MUHC - Governance at issue, according to the RPCU

MONTREAL, Dec. 19, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - In an open letter to the Premier of Quebec, which has gone unanswered, the Regroupement provincial des comités des usagers (Provincial Regroupment of Patient Committees) has called into question the role that boards of directors play in health management in Quebec. The RPCU does not believe that the boards have the tools they need to do their jobs properly. Furthermore, in some cases, the boards' codes of ethics prevent patients from expressing their views.

"What is the point of having patients sit on boards of directors, only to be stifled?" wonders the Director General of the RPCU, Pierre Blain.

Dr. Baron states in his report that the directors were deprived of crucial information. According to the RPCU, only a new public sector governance model will make it possible to resolve problems such as the MUHC's deficit. The way the boards of directors operate is not appropriate; the directors do not have the means to do their jobs properly. It is essential that patients regain control over the administrative bodies, and that managers render accounts to them.

"Do we want the citizens' voice to speak? And if so, how can we give it the means to do so?" concludes Pierre Blain.

The letter to the Premier will be available later today on the RPCU's Web site, at www.rpcu.qc.ca .

RPCU Profile

The Regroupement provincial des comités des usagers (RPCU) advocates on behalf of users and is the spokesperson for the 600 user and in-patient committees in Quebec's health and social services establishments. The committees' mission is to defend users' rights and work to improve the quality of services provided to users of the health and social services network. www.rpcu.qc.ca.

SOURCE: PROVINCIAL REGROUPMENT OF PATIENT COMMITTEES (RPCU)

Richard Rancourt, Director of Communications, cell.: 514 966-0279
Pierre Blain, Director General, 514 436-3744 cell.: 730-9773