Quebec's ex-health minister joins private health-care firm

Former Quebec health minister Philippe Couillard is moving into a lucrative, private-sector job with an equity firm thatspecializes in medical care.

Couillard quit politics in June after serving as Quebec's health minister for five years.

He announced Monday he has accepted a position as a partner at Persistence Capital Partners (PCP), a Canadian private equity fund which specializes in health-care business investments.

In an interview with Canadian Press, Couillard said he no longer has access to inside information at the health ministry, and was recruited by PCP because of his grasp of health-care issues.

Provincial ethics laws prevent Couillard from lobbying Quebec's health ministry for two years after he leaves office.

Theformer surgeonsaid he still supports public health care, but also believes there's a place for private services.

"Look at Western Europe most of the countries of Western Europe, of all political colours, left or right you have a very strong public health care system, with a legally-defined private sector, that acts as a complement."

Couillard oversaw the introduction of some private health-care services in Quebec following a 2005 Supreme Court decision on the Public Health Act.

The Parti Qubcois said it is "profoundly uncomfortable" with Couillard's announcement.

PCP, a Montreal-based firm, invests in private health-care clinics across the country. It owns the Groupe Sant Mdisys.