Quebec wants to force new doctors to work in the public system after graduation

Quebec's health minister plans to introduce a bill that would force new general practitioners and medical specialists trained in the province to devote the first few years of their careers to the public system.

In a statement, Health Minister Christian Dubé said that “too many doctors, once their careers begin, decide to leave Quebec's public system.”

“We will take steps to ensure that the population has access to the care they pay for,” Dubé said in the statement.

It is not clear how many years these doctors would have to spend early in their careers in the public system. It is also not clear whether they would have to work exclusively in that system during that time.

The health minister was asked these questions during an interview with Radio-Canada's Tout un Matin, but said he had to be careful in providing details and let the legislative process unfold.

“Just know that the goal behind this, like other measures we've taken over the last two years, is to strengthen the public system,” he told Radio-Canada.

According to the Ministry of Health, 775 of the 22,479 doctors practicing in Quebec work exclusively in the private sector – a 70 per cent increase since 2020. The ministry says this trend is even more noticeable among new doctors.

“That may not seem huge, but it could be the doctors we are missing to get people an appointment within 36 hours,” Dubé said.

The Department of Health also says taxpayers spend between $435,000 and $790,000 to train a doctor.

Earlier this month, Radio-Canada reported that the province is considering moving primary care physicians away from healthier people to ensure they take on the most vulnerable patients.

The idea – which Dubé emphasized was far from becoming a reality – was heavily criticized by opposition parties.

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Good idea, but not enough, says Québec Solidaire

On Monday, QUebec's College of Physicians published a set of “guiding principles” regarding private healthcare and called for an immediate halt to the expansion of that sector.

The Fédération des médecins spécialistes du Québec (FMSQ), which represents medical specialists in the province, said it wants to see Dubé's bill before considering the plan.

“That said, we would like to remind the government that the best way to keep medical specialists in the public health system is to give them the resources to provide care,” the federation said, citing a lack of equipment and personnel .

“And if these kinds of obligations apply to doctors, they should also apply to other health professionals, many of whom are leaving the public sector for the private sector.”

The Médecins de Québécois pour le régime public (MQRP), a group that advocates for the preservation of the province's public health care system, said it was pleased that Dubé “finally recognized that the exodus of physicians to the private sector is a problem that negatively impacts access to care and the public system.” influences.”

According to Québec Solidaire (QS), an opposition party that has often accused the CAQ of facilitating or failing to slow the growth of the province's private health care sector, Dubé's idea does not go far enough.

“It will not bring back the 800 doctors who have already left the public sector,” said Vincent Marissal, MNA and healthcare critic for QS.