In the middle of a National Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of COVID-19 on March 11, the Minister of Health and Social Services, Christian Dubé, describes the first year as “difficult, but from which we have learned a lot”. He now wants to be more on the ground to tackle the issues that persist.
Arrived in June, between the two waves of the pandemic, the minister considers that the second “was less difficult. We had learned a lot. We managed to do well under the circumstances, thanks to the Quebecers who mobilized ”.
He nevertheless said that he was thinking of the most vulnerable people who were particularly affected and underlined the duty to remember that was the “moving” ceremony in Parliament.
“It has been a very trying year, but we see the light at the end of the tunnel with the vaccination,” adds Mr. Dubé.
His mandate was clear when he was appointed. He had to make sure that the tragedies of the first wave did not happen again.
“We quickly prepared a second wave plan which turned out to be a relative success, because I am weighing my words, especially in CHSLDs,” he shares.
The minister was to work on the spheres of health impacted by the context of the health crisis.
“We fell behind in the surgeries. With the drop in hospitalizations, we are getting closer and closer to 100% of surgeries performed, ”he points out.
In addition, the state of emergencies was at the top of his list.
“I think a lot about the Montérégie when we talk about hospitals. There are big issues, among others at Anna-Laberge, Pierre-Boucher and Charles-Le Moyne. This is one of the files that did not stop during COVID-19, ”said the minister.
Mr. Dubé also mentions the importance of considering the aging of the population so that the living environments of seniors, as well as home care, are of better quality.
“I had a mission from the Prime Minister to try to correct the situation on urgent issues, including COVID-19 and its impacts.”
-Christian Dubé
Numbers man
Christian Dubé was at the Treasury Board before landing at the Ministry of Health. He does not hide that this new position allows him to put forward another facet of his personality.
“Yes, I am known as a man of numbers. I had the chance to be in the field all the same before, in companies and the human side is important to me. I am also a man of the field. It surprises people, but I like going to meet them to ask them what more we can do, ”he confides.
Since the situation “is a little better”, the minister says he is seizing the opportunities to go to health facilities. He’s planning a tour to improve emergencies. A total of 25 were targeted, including several in Montérégie.
Vaccination
Christian Dubé would like to tell the people of Montérégie that time slots for vaccination are released daily, even on time.
“I invite people from the Montérégie to return to the reservation site or by phone, even those in their 70s who have an appointment later. They can have it sooner, ”he said.
On March 10, 18,000 people were vaccinated, he says proudly adding that it is possible to go up to ideally reach up to 25,000 vaccinations per day.
As for vaccinations in pharmacies, it should begin at the end of March or at the beginning of April in 289 community pharmacies in the Montérégie, confirms the office of the cabinet of Mr. Dubé.
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