Should the RPCU have paid $1500 for a receipt confirmation for its letter to Prime Minister Trudeau about health transfers?
MONTRÉAL, Dec. 19, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - The Regroupement provincial des comités des usagers (RPCU), which represents users of the Québec health and social services network, has still not received a receipt confirmation for its letter of October 6, 2016, to Prime Minister Trudeau, asking him to follow through on the health transfer commitments made in the last election campaign.
"Should the RPCU have had to pay $1500 for access to Prime Minister Trudeau in order to discuss health care transfers with him?" asked Pierre Blain, Director General of the RPCU. "The Liberal Party of Canada made promises to the users of the Québec health and social services network in the last election campaign. We expect it to follow through on these promises."
The Canadian and provincial ministers of finance and health are meeting today in Ottawa to discuss health transfers. According to the information available, the federal Minister of Finance, the Honourable Bill Morneau, has proposed to stick with the former Harper government's policy and keep the transfers at 3%.
Originally, the federal government financed nearly 50% of health care expenditures. Now, that number is down to about 20%. "We sincerely believe that the federal government should finance 25% of health care expenditures in Canada," stated Claude Ménard, President of the RPCU. "Offering less means making the users alone bear the increased cost of maintaining the care and services required by the federal health care law," he added.
With the ageing of the population, the RPCU believes that health care transfers should be at least 5% per year. This would make it easier to meet needs such as home care, mental health care, better access to family doctors and shorter waiting lists for emergency care and surgery. "The federal government has to negotiate with the provinces in good faith. Québec's demands are reasonable and should be heard," Mr. Blain concluded.
About the RPCU
The Regroupement provincial des comités des usagers (RPCU) defends user rights and represents the 600 user and resident committees of Québec's health and social services institutions. The mission of the user and resident committees is to defend the rights of the users and to work to improve the quality of the services offered to the users of the health and social services network. The RPCU also defends the rights of seniors and youth.
SOURCE Provincial Regroupment of Patient Committees (RPCU)
For further information: Richard Rancourt, Director, Communications, 514 966-0279; Pierre Blain, Director General, 514 436-3744
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