Quebec’s Health Minister, Christian Dubé, has pledged to take a tough stand against doctors who have hindered the progress of the Digital Health Record (DSN) implementation.
Dubé’s commitment came on Friday night as special legislation was swiftly adopted to enforce a new payment system for doctors and put an end to their resistance tactics.
Addressing a query from Québec solidaire MNA Vincent Marissal about doctors’ refusal to engage in DSN implementation, Dubé hinted at forthcoming actions against such actions.
The minister hinted at addressing past actions that might have impeded the DSN’s progress and vowed to take specific steps against pressure tactics.
Following the postponement of DSN pilot projects in certain regions, Dubé squarely blamed doctors’ tactics for the setback, emphasizing the importance of a smooth DSN rollout for efficient healthcare operations.
While Dubé’s office sought to clarify his remarks, stating that the focus is on restoring normalcy swiftly without recourse to punitive measures, critics like Marissal and Liberal health spokesperson Marc Tanguay raised concerns about the minister’s approach.
Marissal criticized Dubé’s perceived aggressive stance as a potential witch hunt, while Tanguay highlighted existing organizational challenges with the DSN and criticized the focus on disciplining doctors over addressing systemic issues.
