Quebec Government Strikes New Deal with Doctors Amid Healthcare Concerns

The Quebec government has announced a new agreement with family doctors, promising improved access to care for hundreds of thousands of patients. Despite this initiative, residents in Gatineau express skepticism about the potential for real change in their healthcare access.

Melissa Ndi, a Gatineau resident without a family doctor, often travels to Ontario for medical care due to long waiting times in Quebec. “Whenever I need to see a doctor, I go on the Ontario side,” she stated. “I never go to the Quebec side, just simply because of the waiting time.”

The agreement reached between Quebec’s government and family physicians aims to connect approximately 500,000 patients with a family doctor by June 2024. It also addresses concerns related to the contentious “Bill 2,” which had linked physician compensation to patient volume. The backlash against this bill led many doctors to consider leaving the province.

Despite the government’s ambitious goals, Ndi remains doubtful about the effectiveness of the new deal. “I’m hopeful that, yes, I might get a personal doctor, but at the end of the day, I’m still kind of cognizant of the fact that there’s not enough doctors to go around,” she explained.

Another Gatineau resident, Edward Blanco-Steger, shares similar concerns. His family’s doctor has announced plans to leave for Ontario at the end of February 2024. “My wife and my kids’ doctor, she’s done at the end of February, and she’s going to Ontario,” he noted, emphasizing the emotional toll this change has taken on his family. “In my daughter’s case, she was in tears. It’s one more emotional thing she doesn’t need in her life.”

On Friday, Dr. Marc-Andre Amyot, president of the Quebec Federation of General Practitioners, addressed concerns regarding the new agreement. He characterized it as a significant victory for both physicians and patients. The new deal will afford doctors greater autonomy over their patient loads and eliminate penalties for exceeding limits. Additionally, it includes financial incentives aimed at achieving the target of connecting 500,000 patients with family doctors.

As the Quebec government moves forward with this agreement, many residents remain cautious, hoping for tangible improvements in healthcare access while acknowledging the challenges that still lie ahead.