Quebec Doctors Clash with Government Over New Payment System
Quebec doctors are facing a contentious battle with the provincial government due to a new law that introduces a different payment structure for physicians and prohibits them from using pressure tactics to oppose the policy. As a result, doctors in Quebec are considering their options as neighbouring provinces actively seek to attract them for potential career moves. Here are key points to understand about the ongoing conflict between doctors and the government in Quebec:
In an effort to enhance healthcare access for approximately 1.5 million Quebec residents without a family doctor, the Quebec government introduced legislation in May. Premier François Legault had initially promised universal access to a family doctor during his 2018 election campaign, though later revised the timeline to aim for every Quebecer to have access to a healthcare professional by the summer of 2026.
The proposed Bill 106 included plans to register all residents with a healthcare clinic and link part of doctors’ pay to performance indicators like appointment and surgery numbers. However, doctors’ federations raised concerns that the changes could jeopardize healthcare quality in favor of quantity and lead to an exodus of doctors to other provinces. They criticized the government’s portrayal of physicians as lazy and called for the withdrawal of the bill.
Amidst stalled negotiations, the two doctor federations resorted to boycotting medical student teaching, prompting Premier Legault to introduce special legislation, Bill 2, to enforce the reforms and address the impasse. The new bill maintains the key principles of Bill 106 while incorporating measures to curb doctors’ collective actions against the policy, including potential financial penalties for such actions.
The response from doctors has been swift, with protests against the legislation, citing concerns about violations of individual freedoms. The federation of medical specialists announced plans to challenge the law in court. The government, on the other hand, has defended the changes, emphasizing that the aim is not to reduce doctors’ pay and clarifying that dissenting opinions will not result in fines.
As the conflict intensifies, Ontario and New Brunswick have positioned themselves to attract discontented Quebec doctors. Premier Doug Ford of Ontario openly invited Quebec physicians to consider relocating, drawing sharp criticism from Premier Legault. Despite the influx of license applications from Quebec doctors to these provinces, the ultimate impact remains uncertain.
