Quebec 2018 year in review: Changing the face of health care

Issues of failing — or succeeding — health care in Quebec were front and centre in 2018.

After years of waiting, some families welcomed long-anticipated, life-changing treatments. At the same time, others spent the year advocating strongly for better services for English speakers and veterans.

Which Quebec health story was most memorable to you?

Accessibility for all

2:09 Improving access to health care for anglophones

A new regulation aims to improve access to health care for the province’s English-speaking minority.

The goal of the revamped provincial access committee is to restore representation and increase accountability.

READ THE STORY: Quebec adopts new regulation to improve access to health care in English

Game-changing policy

1:14 Lifesaving drug approved for children with a degenerative illness

Cavallaro made the statement after the Quebec government announced that SMA Type 2 and 3 patients will now have access to Spinraza.

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READ THE STORY: Quebec approves ‘life-changing’ treatment for patients with Type 2 and 3 spinal muscular atrophy

Swab for Ellie

4:16 Swabbing for Ellie

Two months after a call for bone marrow donors, a match has finally been found for Ellie.

READ THE STORY: Bone marrow match found for 6-year-old Montrealer

Taking care of our vets

2:13 Veteran’s daughters blame government for father’s death

“We were promised that he was going to be well taken care of with dignity, respect, the language of his choice — none of that happened,” said Barb Ekins Colpitts, whose father, Fred Ekins, lived at Ste. Anne’s Hospital until his death at 98 just two weeks before Remembrance Day.

The family of the recently deceased veteran is asking the Quebec government to work harder to uphold a high level of care at Ste. Anne’s Hospital.

READ THE STORY: Family claims veteran received inadequate care at Ste. Anne’s Hospital

Potential new home

2:06 Quebec keeping options on the table for Vaudreuil hospital

“All options are on the table” when it comes to deciding the site of the future hospital in Vaudreuil-Dorion, said Quebec Health Minister Danielle McCann.

The new hospital is supposed to serve a population of more than 155,000 and is scheduled to open by 2026.

READ THE STORY: Quebec reconsiders Vaudreuil hospital move but pledges it will be built on time