Some Quebecers could be receiving inappropriate medical treatment

Montreal, November 16, 2006 – Are all medical interventions in Quebec truly necessary? On the eve of the Quebec government’s adoption of Bill 33, which aims to improve accessibility to specialized and superspecialized medical care, three researchers from the University of Montreal’s Department of Health Administration have called for a debate on the issue.

Researchers Marie-Pascale Pomey, Régis Blais and Damien Contandriopoulos will raise the question at today’s 25th Jean-Yves-Rivard Conference at the University of Montreal. The conference, entitled “Waiting Lists and the Appropriateness of Care”, will be attended by Health Minister Philippe Couillard.

“In most circles and even within Bill 33, the focus is on whether our healthcare system provides sufficient services to meet public demand. Seen from this viewpoint, waiting lists are the result our system’s incapacity to provide the necessary services,” explains Marie-Pascale Pomey, professor at the Department of Health Administration of the University of Montreal and president of the organizing committee of today’s conference. “Reliable studies have shown, however, that a large proportion of the services provided these days may well be inappropriate.”

As an example, the researchers from the Department of Health Administration point to cataract surgery. Canada’s most commonly-performed surgical intervention, cataract operations are the object of significant waiting lists. In 2001, a major study in Vancouver revealed that fully 31% of patients who underwent cataract surgery had near-perfect vision prior to their operation. The authors of the study hypothesized that doctors had operated on individuals whose clinical condition had not warranted surgery. In 2005, 66 567 cataract operations were performed in Quebec. Applying the above-mentioned rate to this figure would suggest that 20 635 of these operations were performed on individuals whose vision was already excellent.

“By raising this issue, we by no means wish to downplay individual needs or the suffering of those awaiting treatment. Nor do we question the competence of doctors or healthcare administrators,” said Marie-Pascale Pomey. “We do believe, however, that if the investment of additional resources is to make a real difference to the health of Quebecers, it is crucial that we implement mechanisms that will make systemic and long-lasting improvements to our healthcare system.”

The Conference’s morning sessions will address how considering the appropriateness of care and reorganizing services can help reduce waiting lists. In the afternoon, several speakers will unveil successful methods for the reduction of lists outside of Quebec, with a view to providing ideas for a local model. In particular, John Appleby, Chief Economist at the King’s Fund in London, England, will present the measures that cut back on waiting lists in England.

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Source: Department of Health Administration, University of Montreal

Information:

Valérie Cousinard
Public Relations Professional
(450) 628-9534

Helena Urfer, Coordinator
Department of Health Administration
(514) 343-5610 or (514) 299-8292