In a significant restructuring initiative, Santé Québec announced the elimination of the Executive Vice-President position previously held by Frédéric Abergel.
This move, aimed at streamlining the organization, is part of a broader 20% reduction in managerial positions within the healthcare agency. The announcement was made by Geneviève Biron, the President and CEO of Santé Québec, on March 21, 2025, highlighting a strategic shift towards a new management approach that will divide responsibilities into two complementary divisions.
Earlier, on March 3, 2025, Abergel was dismissed, bringing attention to potential issues within the organizational structure. Santé Québec was officially launched on December 1, 2024, and has since been navigating challenges associated with its integration into the broader healthcare network of Quebec.
In her statement, Biron outlined that the responsibilities formerly held by Abergel will now be distributed between two newly established vice-presidencies: Operations - Coordination Health and Social Services, and Clinical Excellence. Maryse Poupart, who has been leading the CISSS de la Montérégie-Centre since 2023, was appointed to oversee operations starting April 14, 2025. Poupart will coordinate pre-hospital and hospital services and manage various health and social sectors including youth healthcare, public health, senior services, and mental health and addiction.
This reorganization is seen as critical in addressing the operational complexities faced by Santé Québec. By consolidating leadership roles, Biron aims to craft a more agile response to the needs of the healthcare system, a necessity underlined by a pressing budget deficit of $1.5 billion impacting healthcare services across the province.
Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, expressed discomfort with the initial structure of Santé Québec, which reportedly did not align well with government expectations. In his remarks, Dubé indicated that the government is committed to reducing the workforce through natural attrition as opposed to layoffs, stating, "It is not normal that there are more civil servants with the creation of Santé Québec." He reaffirmed that the ongoing adjustments are intended to meet the demands of this transitional period.
The details of these changes were echoed by various stakeholders in the health community, who expressed mixed feelings about the restructuring. For instance, André Fortin, the Liberal health spokesperson, criticized the administrative burden that has arisen since the creation of Santé Québec, suggesting that it has devolved into an administrative circus where the focus shifts towards managing bureaucracy rather than improving patient care.
"The truth is that the government launched this project without a clear vision of what it was doing. The result: organizational chaos, cuts to staff, disappearing resources, and patients bearing the consequences," remarked Fortin, encapsulating the sentiments of many across the political spectrum regarding the recent changes.
Furthermore, Joël Arseneau, a member of the Parti Québécois, decried the decision to cut executive positions while emphasizing the detrimental impact of substantial budget cuts on health services in Quebec, deeming it a waste.
As preparations continue for the new operational framework, the creation of the Clinical Excellence vice-presidency remains pending, with its future leadership yet to be appointed. The person in this role will oversee essential aspects of healthcare delivery, including family medicine, specialized care, nursing services, pharmaceutical management, and digital transformation of clinical practices.
In conclusion, the restructuring at Santé Québec marks a pivotal moment in the management of healthcare services within the province, aiming to better align operational strategies with population health needs amidst mounting fiscal challenges. The forthcoming leadership changes and their execution will play a crucial role in defining the success of these reforms and their acceptance among healthcare professionals and patients alike.
