Quebec’s Medical Specialist Consultation Wait Times Criticized by Auditor General
Acting Auditor General (AG) Alain Fortin has raised concerns about the challenging process of securing an initial consultation with a medical specialist in Quebec. In a report presented to the National Assembly, Fortin highlighted the persistent issues that have plagued the system for years, attributing the slow progress in addressing them.
The report revealed alarming statistics, showing that in 10 audited specialties, a significant number of consultation requests designated as priority C and D have exceeded their deadlines. Priority C cases, such as uncontrolled epilepsy, and priority D cases, like disabling osteoarthritis or recurrent ear infections, are facing delays, with 71% and 77% of requests respectively overdue.
The situation is particularly dire in ophthalmology, with the AG pointing out extreme wait times in regions like Côte-Nord, where the average wait time for priority C and D consultations surpasses 500 days.
A survey conducted by the Collège des médecins in 2025 found that over a quarter of Quebec residents sought help from private physicians due to the challenges encountered in accessing appointments within the public healthcare system.
