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A new assessment of Quebec’s hospital network has revealed a grim reality: the state of the province’s medical infrastructure is far worse than previously reported, with the number of buildings rated in poor condition more than doubling in the last year.
According to data updated by Santé Québec and compiled by Radio-Canada, 38 per cent of the province’s 594 hospital buildings were considered to be in “poor” (rated D) or “very poor” (rated E) condition as of early 2026.
Overall, the number of dilapidated buildings jumped from about 100 in early 2025 to 227 a year later.
As a result, the price tag to fix the network has exploded. The asset maintenance deficit for hospitals, which stood at around $900 million last year, has now surpassed $2 billion.
Montreal at the epicentre
Nearly half of the province’s most dilapidated hospitals are located in Montreal. Topping the list of the most dire cases is the Montreal General Hospital, followed by the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, the site of recent burst water pipes.
Just last year, the Montreal General received a “B” rating, indicating it was in good condition. This year, its status plummeted to an “E,” the lowest possible grade, deeming the infrastructure in “very bad” shape.
“It is truly a critical situation,” said Colleen Timm, executive director of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC).
Timm revealed that the hospital has suffered 260 water leaks since the start of 2024, many of which have directly impacted patient care.
She noted that the building’s entire plumbing and electrical systems need to be replaced. The maintenance deficit for the hospital is estimated at $249 million.
A provincewide problem
While the Montreal General is a stark example, it is far from the only facility in trouble.
Santé Québec figures indicate that the Douglas Mental Health Institute in Montreal, the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec in Quebec City and the Saint-Jérôme regional hospital each require approximately $100 million in repairs.
Sonia Dugas, vice-president of finance at Santé Québec, described the rapid deterioration of the network as “worrisome.”
She explained that the sudden spike in poor ratings is partly due to a long-overdue update of the province’s infrastructure data.
“It is work that had not been done for several years — to properly evaluate [the buildings] so we can prioritize and manage the budget to have an up-to-date picture,” she said.
Dugas said the province needs to make sure its old buildings are properly maintained before making new ones.
The financial backlog is steep. Santé Québec currently has a maintenance budget of $1 billion, but Dugas admits the actual cost to carry out necessary repairs will be at least double that amount.
Burst pipes at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute in Montreal flooded about half of its research building, according to staff. The regional health authority blames the cold weather and aging infrastructure.
