Premier Christine Fréchette was unaware of the issues with the Digital Health Record (DSN) raised by various media outlets.
The daily newspaper Le Devoir and Quebecor media outlets have reported several mishaps, including alleged overdoses caused by the system, as well as delays in chemotherapy treatments.
The CAQ government nevertheless maintains that the implementation of the DSN is proceeding smoothly.
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During Question Period on Friday, Opposition House Leader André Fortin asked the premier if she was aware of the overdoses in particular.
“No, I was absolutely unaware that there had been issues of this nature,” she replied. Fortin’s retort was swift.
“There have been overdoses, there have been chemotherapy treatments postponed by four weeks, there are doctors who want to retire because they’re at their wits’ end, and the premier tells us: ‘I didn’t know, I didn’t know any of that.’”
Just before that, during press conferences, Fréchette and Health Minister Sonia Bélanger sought to reassure the public about the problems plaguing the DSN, which had been brought to light by several doctors.
The DSN has been implemented as a pilot project for the past month in two CIUSSSs in Montreal and Mauricie, and doctors have spoken out in certain media outlets, including Le Devoir and Le Journal de Québec.
Doctors have reported delays, as well as requests that have allegedly gone missing.
Upon arriving at the question period, Fréchette said that Santé Québec had informed her that “all prescribed deadlines are being met” and that “this is a line that must not be crossed.”
“And that is where we stand right now,” she assured.
Bélanger, for her part, argued that it was normal for a new system to experience problems in its early stages—“and there will be other issues,” she warned.
“Listen, we’re capable of making this change,” she argued. “I’ve been out in the field, I know the system, I’ve met with doctors. Honestly, we’ve implemented this well; it’s normal for there to be adjustments.”
At a press conference, the three opposition parties expressed their concerns about the new system, calling on the government to resolve the issues immediately.
“I hope Santé Québec will take the necessary steps to support and assist patients so that we don’t let any of them down,” said PLQ MNA Monsef Derraji. “Neither you nor I will be happy if a patient ends up paying the price.”
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
