The Provincial Regroupment of Patient Committees Opposes the 'ticket
moderateur' (Patient's Contribution)

MONTREAL, May 3 /CNW Telbec/ - The Provincial Regroupment of Patient Committees (RPCU) has some serious concerns about the notion of a patient's contribution presented in the last budget. The RPCU does not believe that people who need health care services will be better served with this contribution.

"We believe that this contribution brings about too much inconvenience for the patients and in the end, the improvement in services will not be there" says Mr. Claude Menard, President of the RPCU as he adds our voice to the other groups that have opposed this measure.

The Provincial Regroupment of Patient Committees believes that since this announcement, a climate of uncertainty has settled on the patients of the health and social services because no one knows how this will be applied. This announcement is causing anguish and anxiety for many of the clients served by the Patients committees, often the most vulnerable such as the elderly and the handicapped.

"We have to ask some questions" suggests Mr. Menard. "Will this apply to visits to the ER? Will this apply in long term care institutions? Will this apply for ambulance service frequently used by the elderly?"

The RPCU fears that a new structure will have to be put in place to manage this health tax. These additional costs will not be put to the benefit of the patients but rather to cover the cost of collecting the money, resulting in a waste and adding to the already heavy burden of burocracy.

"What structure must be put in place to manage this and at what cost? Will the money collected go to serving the people who need to use the system or rather to costly controls which will enrich the already weighty burocracy?

The Patient Committees and Resident Committees were created to be the guardians of the rights of the users of service in the Health and Social Service establishments. They have responsibilities to work toward improving the quality of service received. More than 5000 persons work as volunteers on 594 committees across the province of Quebec with this mission as each establishment is mandated to create there committees. Two representatives from these committees also serve on the Board of Directors of the establishment.

The Provincial Regroupment of Patient Committees (RPCU) represents Patient and resident committees.

SOURCE Provincial Regroupment of Patient Committees (RPCU)

For further information: For further information:

Provincial Regroupment of Patient Committees
Claude Menard
President
819-318-0116
or
Provincial Regroupment of Patient Committees
Pierre Blain
Directeur general
514-436-3744
pblain.rpcu@hotmail.com
www.rpcu.qc.ca