Quebec to invest $252 million in preventive health programs over five years

MONTREAL — The Quebec government is spending more than $250 million on preventive health care over the next five years in a bid to reduce illness and stave off rising costs.

The government says the money will be used for 54 programs, including those that promote physical activity, help people stop smoking, prevent sexually transmitted infections and support research into disease prevention.

Health Minister Sonia Bélanger says the funds represent a desire for the government to invest into health programs outside hospitals and doctors’ offices.

Quebec’s preventive health strategy notes that health-care costs have been rising faster than the economy, due in part to an aging population and a rise in chronic diseases.