Access Program for Health and Social Services
The Access Program to English-Language Health and Social Services aims to ensure that English-speaking individuals can receive health and social services in English, comparable to those offered to the French-speaking population. This right is exercised in the spirit of equity, taking into account geographic proximity and continuity of care.
This program, developed under Section 15 of the Act respecting health services and social services (LSSSS), outlines the terms of access, the types of services covered, and the facilities or service points where services must be made available in English. It also considers the available human, financial, and material resources, as well as regional specificities.
In addition to identifying who is eligible and under what circumstances services must be provided in English, the program serves as a guide for institutions to organize, assess, and improve linguistic accessibility as part of their mission, in compliance with provincial legal obligations.