Santé Québec cancels tender for private clinics to perform long-delayed surgeries

Santé Québec has cancelled a tender seeking private clinics to perform orthopedic or plastic surgeries, at public expense, for patients waiting more than a year in the public system. The agency told Radio-Canada the tender did not attract enough clinics to balance added surgical capacity, costs and access; five clinics had bid. The pilot project, initiated by former health minister Christian Dubé, was to start this spring. In late July, about 30,000 patients were waiting for orthopedic surgery, more than 1,000 of them for over a year. Santé Québec says it will use hospital operating rooms and existing clinic agreements.