While the new Health Agency is about to take office, voices are being raised in Magog to demand local health management in this region.
Jacques Demers, prefect of the MRC Memphrémagog and mayor of Sainte-Catherine-de-Hatley, as well as Jean-Guy Gingras, co-chair of the Memphrémagog health and social services monitoring committee, express their skepticism in the face of promises to improve services and fear the impacts of budget cuts announced by the new Santé Québec agency.
They highlight the deterioration in the quality of services and the importance of local management adapted to regional realities.
Listen to the interview given to host Jean-Sébastien Hammal by Jacques Demers, from the MRC of Memphrémagog, and Jean-Guy Gingras, from the Memphrémagog health and social services watchdog.
According to them, the centralization of orders in Sherbrooke is a failure.
“There has been a deterioration of service as far as I am concerned. There has not been an increase in quality of service. I could give you examples, if you want,” says Mr. Gingras.
For Mr. Demers, “proximity management could help enormously. We talk to other security guards from other hospitals. We lost our local management. That’s what hurts the most. In a period when the government has less money than it had, there are perhaps cuts, more concrete things that we manage to do locally.”
An open letter published in the newspaper The Reflection of Magog calls for a return to local health management in Magog. A reform has centralized decisions in Sherbrooke for almost ten years.
**How does the proposed return to local health management in Magog aim to address the concerns expressed by residents regarding deteriorating service quality under the centralized system?**
## Magog Demanding Local Control: Will New Health Agency Deliver?
**As Quebec’s new Health Agency readies to take charge, growing dissent is brewing in Magog. Local leaders are sounding the alarm, expressing skepticism about promises for improved care and fearing the impact of budget cuts.**
This week, we’re joined by **Jacques Demers**, prefect of the MRC Memphrémagog and mayor of Sainte-Catherine-de-Hatley and **Jean-Guy Gingras**, co-chair of the Memphrémagog health and social services monitoring committee. Both men are vocal proponents of returning health management to the local level.
They argue that the centralization of decisions in Sherbrooke, implemented nearly a decade ago, has resulted in a demonstrable decline in service quality.
**The Centralization Conundrum: A Failed Experiment?**
**Host**: For years, Sherbrooke has held the reins of health service delivery in the region. Do our guests believe this centralization has truly benefitted the people of Magog?
**Jean-Guy Gingras**: Absolutely not. We’ve seen a clear deterioration in the quality of service delivered.
“There has not been an increase in quality of service,” Gingras states plainly, adding “I could give you examples, if you want.”
**Jacques Demers**: I couldn’t agree more. Proximity management could make a world of difference. We need to be able to talk directly with other healthcare providers in our region and address the specific needs of our community. Losing that local management has been incredibly painful.
**Budget Cuts: A Looming Threat in a Time of Tightening Resources?**
**Host**: With the provincial government facing fiscal challenges, there are concerns about potential cuts to healthcare budgets. How would a return to local management equip Magog to address these challenges, especially if fewer resources are available?
**Jacques Demers**: At the local level, we can be more creative and efficient. We know our community’s needs intimately, and we can identify cost-effective solutions tailored to our specific circumstances. We can ensure that every dollar is used wisely to provide the best possible care for our residents.
**”In a period when the government has less money than it had, there are perhaps cuts, more concrete things that we manage to do locally,” Demers emphasizes. **
**The Open Letter: A Community’s Call for Change**
**Host**: An open letter published in the local newspaper, _The Reflection_, definitively calls for the return of local health management control in Magog. What key message do our guests hope to send with this call?
**Jean-Guy Gingras**: This is about more than just healthcare; it’s about reclaiming control over our community’s well-being. We need decision-makers who understand our unique challenges and are accountable to the people they serve.
**A Way Forward: Charting a Path Towards verbessert Healthcare Deliver**
**Host**: what are the key steps that need to be taken to ensure that Magog residents receive the high-quality, accessible healthcare they deserve?
**Jacques Demers**: We need open dialog with the new Health Agency. We need to present them with concrete evidence of the shortcomings of the current centralized system and demonstrate how a return to local management can benefit both the community and the province’s bottom line.
The community’s voice is the most powerful tool we have, and we will continue to advocate tirelessly for a healthcare system that truly serves the needs of Magog.
