The Legault government has decided to make significant changes in its approach to family doctors, a move that has raised concerns about the impact on vulnerable patients, according to the Regroupement provincial des comités des usagers (RPCU).
During special consultations on Bill 19, which aims to amend the previous Bill 2, the RPCU expressed its worries to Health Minister Sonia Bélanger. The contentious Bill 2 had caused tension among doctors as it modified their payment structure, set performance goals, and introduced penalties.
In a shift from its previous stance, the government has now aligned with the Fédération des médecins omnipraticiens du Québec (FMOQ) to promote an increase in the number of registered patients, including 180,000 vulnerable individuals, by June 30, 2026.
As part of this initiative, new patient enrollments will be incentivized with $75 million, and the remuneration for family physicians will see a 14.5% increase amounting to $435 million. The bill also reintroduces capitation payments for frontline family doctors, though some may opt out.
While Minister Bélanger emphasized the care of 500,000 patients, FMOQ President Dr. Marc-André Amyot highlighted the offering of 500,000 appointments, drawing scrutiny from the Liberal opposition.
The RPCU and opposition members underscored the importance of quality care beyond appointment numbers, especially for vulnerable patients. Québec solidaire MNA Guillaume Cliche-Rivard raised concerns about the demand for appointments from the 180,000 vulnerable patients mentioned in the bill.
Despite over 78,000 Quebecers receiving assurance of care, challenges remain in accessing appointments, leading to frustration among patients and a need for tangible results, as expressed by RPCU representatives.
The Conseil pour la protection des malades acknowledged the bill’s efforts to address doctor shortages but noted the gap in addressing all orphaned patients’ needs. The limited engagement of stakeholders like the FMOQ and Santé Québec in the consultations raised some criticism from PQ MNA Joël Arseneau.
In a separate development, the Quebec Federation of Medical Specialists (FMSQ) sought a 17% increase in their remuneration envelope, prompting a response from Treasury Board President France-Élaine Duranceau to manage expectations and maintain focus on enhancing family medicine.
