Family Doctors in Quebec to Vote on New Deal with Government
Family doctors in Quebec are facing a crucial deadline as they have until Friday to vote on a proposed deal that could bring significant changes to the province’s healthcare system. The deal, if approved, would mark a major shift in the government’s stance on controversial reforms related to how physicians are paid.
The proposed agreement includes the elimination of performance-related penalties and a colour-coded patient vulnerability assessment system. Additionally, it offers a substantial $435 million increase in the compensation package for family doctors. The government has also decided to abandon its ambitious target of assigning all Quebecers to a healthcare provider by 2027, instead focusing on incentivizing doctors to take on 500,000 new patients by June 2026.
While the new deal maintains alterations to how physicians are remunerated, it removes the looming threat of hefty fines for doctors who engage in collective opposition to the legislation. This change comes after the Coalition Avenir Québec government had faced significant resistance from physicians following the passing of Bill 2 in late October.
If family doctors vote in favor of the proposed deal, the government has committed to amending the law accordingly, with the changes set to come into effect on Feb. 28.
