A budget deficit of more than$ 23 Million to the MUHC

Photo By Héloïse Archambault

Héloïse Archambault

Monday, 31 July, 2017 06:30

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Monday, 31 July, 2017 06:30

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The MUHC has registered the worst deficit in Québec last year, with $ 23.4 million, but the management promises a return to a balanced budget as early as this year without reducing service to patients.

“It is a challenge, everyone works, ensures Richard Fahey, director of communications of the McGill university health Centre [MUHC]. We tabled a balanced budget and by that we mean the respect. The word order is clear. “

Recurring deficit

The financial problems of the MUHC does not date from yesterday. Last year, its deficit was also the worst in Quebec, to $ 42 million. It has even reached$ 90 Million in 2012-2013.

In Quebec, the third of the health facilities (12 of 35) had a deficit in 2016-2017, according to data from the ministry of Health and social Services (MSSS) obtained by The Journal. Their shortfall is less than 1 % to 2.2 % (Côte-Nord) of the annual budget.

In some centres, integrated health and social services (CISSS) have recorded a budget surplus, in particular, Lanaudière (+$5.5 Million). Overall, institutions have accumulated a deficit of 5 098 988 $, much less than last year ($32 Million).

Hospitals which have a record of deficits are the subject of a follow-up tightened to the DHSS, and must produce a plan to balance the budget approved. However, the measures should not have an impact on access to services, said.

“Depending on the situation, several measures can be deployed, for example the suspension of development projects and capital projects, tutorship and support to ministerial” written by e-mail the communications branch of the MSSS.

Copy the best

At the MUHC, the management wants to draw on academic institutions comparable to improve its practices.

“If others are able to deliver the same level of care […] we need to learn from them to be more effective,” said Mr. Fahey.

Moreover, even if the budget has been revised downwards since the opening of the Glen site in 2015, it is assured that patient care will not be affected.

“This is not a question of cut, but to do differently,” he said. We have learnt to live with the means of the board. […] The objective is to ensure that we continue to offer quality care. “

Elsewhere, the centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec (CHUQ) has registered the second deficit is among the worst, to$ 9.6 Million. However, the management explains that this amount includes$ 3.2 Million in capital funds, or projects financed, and that the deficit is “real” is rather of$ 6.4 Million. It also recalls that the total budget exceeds one billion dollars, and that the return to equilibrium is expected this year.

Work better

“It has not affected service to patients, we are proud of this, said Genevieve Dupuis, a spokesperson for the CHUQ. It has improved ways of working, and advanced in the management process. “

The CISSS de la Côte-Nord, the deficit of$ 7.9 Million has forced the management to adopt a large-scale transformation plan. Among the measures currently studied, we note the merger of two centres for accommodation and some food services, and the revision of the ratios of staff. It aims for a balanced budget 2019-2020.

Note that the MSSS will not impose budget cuts to schools this year. The budget of the network allocated to the services to the population reached 25.8 billion $ (+3.6 per cent).

Institutions in deficit in 2016-2017

McGill university health Centre (MUHC)

• 23 392 058 $

Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec (CHUQ)

• 9 580 847 $

CISSS North Shore

• 7 919 563 $

CIUSSS Is-of-the-Island-of-Montreal

• 4 846 741 $

CISSS Laurentides

• 2 168 949 $

CISSS de l’abitibi-Témiscamingue

• 2 104 986 $

CIUSSS of the eastern Townships

• 1 488 497 $

CISSS of the Îles-de-la-Madeleine

• 1 103 155 $

CIUSSS of the North-of-the-Island-of-Montreal

• 1 068 138 $

Institute of cardiology of Montreal

• 1 008 495 $

Sainte-Justine

• 719 729 $

CISSS Montérégie-East

• 589 723 $